Severity and depression can impact quality of life in patients with myasthenia gravis

Background The revised 15‐item Myasthenia Gravis (MG) Quality of Life Questionnaire (MGQoL15R) is a validated scale of quality of life in patients with MG. We aimed to study the factors causing the variability within the Arabic version of the MGQoL15R (MGQoL15R‐A). Method A standardized questionnaire was completed by 118 patients. Correlations and hierarchical regression analyses were used to assess the contribution of sociodemographic variables, clinical factors, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ9‐A), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 (GAD7‐A) to the variability in the MGQoL15R‐A. Results The MGQoL15R‐A was highly correlated with PHQ9‐A (r = 0.76), and moderately correlated with GAD7‐A (r = 0.52). Clinical factors and PHQ9‐A independently explained 30.4% and 34.5% of the variability, respectively. Among the clinical factors, uncontrolled MG status, relapse within the past year, and a higher number of current MG therapies were significantly associated with a higher MGQoL15R‐A score. Conclusions MG severity and depressive symptoms (measured by PHQ9‐A) can affect the MGQoL15R‐A score.