Body image is adversely affected among patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and may effect self-esteem and quality of life, according to a study recently published in Muscle & Nerve.
There are many ways in which doctors assess quality of life, including domains encompassing emotional, psychological and social health. Quality of life assessments are important because they offer a better understanding of patients’ inner thoughts and feelings, which may help doctors find better treatments.
However, an aspect of quality of life that has been underexplored is body image, which is pertinent in diseases that can have an effect on physical features. The authors of the study sought to determine factors that may influence quality of life among individuals with MG, with a focus on body image.
A total of 258 patients with MG were included in this study, which used various quality of life questionnaires.
The authors found that ptosis and fatigue correlated with a poorer body image. The authors said that while ptosis is often considered a “mild” symptom of MG, its affect on body image may mean it greatly impacts quality of life.
“This cohort was mostly composed of patients with generalized disease, so the impact of ptosis in patients with pure ocular disease may be even higher,” the study’s authors noted.
Read more about myasthenia gravis testing and diagnosis
The researchers found that a higher degree of disease severity was linked to poorer quality of life scores. Across life domains, both activities and emotions scored highly, meaning that they had an outsized impact on quality of life. Individuals with ocular disease had a better quality of life compared with individuals who had more generalized disease manifestations.
The worst symptoms were reportedly muscle weakness and fatigue. Statistical studies suggest that factors associated with worse quality of life included young age, being in retirement, and having worsened MG fatigue and severity scores.
“Future studies investigating the impact of myasthenia gravis and its effect on body image are needed to better understand the global impact on people living with myasthenia gravis,” the authors of the study concluded.
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