Older adults living with myasthenia gravis (MG) are more likely to die sooner than those without the condition, largely because of other serious health problems that develop over time, according to a study published recently in Muscle and Nerve.
“MG patients developed comorbid conditions around the time of MG diagnosis and during their subsequent course more frequently than the population controls, which compromised their longevity,” explained this study’s authors.
This new study using U.S. Medicare data found that when differences in overall health were considered, MG itself did not shorten life expectancy, but its link with other illnesses did. Researchers analyzed records from more than 36,000 Medicare beneficiaries between 2006 and 2019, including 6,024 people newly diagnosed with MG and 30,083 matched participants without the disease.
The average age was at least 65 years. Death rates were higher among those with MG, at 66.8 per 1,000 person-years compared with 57.1 among those without the disease. However, after adjusting for changes in each person’s overall health burden over time, survival was similar between groups.
Read more about the prognosis of MG
The adjusted hazard ratio for death among the MG group compared with controls was 1.09, which was not statistically significant. About 16% of deaths in the MG group were directly linked to the disease.
Infection-related deaths were more common among those with MG (2.0 per 1,000 person-years versus 1.2 in the control group), while cancer- and dementia-related deaths were less frequent (10.3 vs. 12.5 and 4.7 vs. 7.2, respectively). Cardiovascular disease remained the leading cause of death for both groups.
This study also found that people with MG developed more chronic conditions after diagnosis, including heart failure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, kidney problems, stomach ulcers and rheumatoid disorders. These comorbidities appeared to explain much of the increased mortality risk.
For patients, the findings highlight the importance of managing other medical issues alongside MG. While the disease itself can cause weakness and fatigue, its long-term impact on life expectancy seems more closely tied to the overall health challenges older adults face. Regular follow-up and careful treatment of infections and chronic conditions could help improve survival and quality of life.
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