A new nationwide study published in the Journal of Neurological Sciences found that myasthenia gravis (MG) affects individuals differently across racial and ethnic groups, with people of color facing a higher disease burden and more severe hospital outcomes.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 3,700 adults enrolled in the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Patient Registry and over 62,000 hospitalizations recorded in the National Inpatient Sample. Together, the datasets span more than a decade and represent one of the most comprehensive examinations to date of racial and ethnic differences in MG.
The study found that African American, Hispanic and Indigenous people tended to develop MG at younger ages than white individuals, often before 50. These groups were also more likely to have early-onset disease, which is often associated with generalized muscle weakness.
Measures of disease burden also differed. African American and Indigenous individuals reported more difficulty with activities of daily living and worse quality of life when they enrolled in the patient registry, compared with white and Asian individuals, despite receiving similar treatments.
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Hospital data showed further disparities. Although white patients accounted for the largest number of MG-related hospitalizations overall, African American and Hispanic patients who were hospitalized were more likely to need intubation and mechanical breathing support. Hospital stays for African American patients were also far more expensive, averaging about $119,000 per admission in 2019, roughly 50% higher than costs for white patients.
The researchers noted socioeconomic differences, with African American and Indigenous patients being more likely to report lower household incomes and Medicaid coverage. Despite these disparities, study authors found no significant differences in the types of treatments patients received, suggesting that unequal outcomes may not simply reflect differences in prescribed therapies.
Taken together, the findings show that MG often starts earlier and hits harder in some racial and ethnic groups, leading to greater day-to-day disability and more severe hospital outcomes.
The authors say the results highlight the need for more research to better understand racial differences in early-onset MG and targeted efforts to reduce disparities.
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