The influence of symptom severity and fatigue on sleep quality in patients with myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a rare and chronic autoimmune disease. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of symptom severity and fatigue on sleep quality in patients with myasthenia gravis.

This was a cross-sectional study, and the population consisted of patients with MG throughout Turkey. The study was completed with 163 patients on 1 April and 31 July 2022.

It was found that the mean Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living Scale score was 6.32 ± 3.9, the Fatigue Severity Scale score was 37.01 ± 23.26, and the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was 9.04 ± 2.69. The variables affecting the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were age, Body Mass Index, Fatigue Severity Scale ≥ 4, Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living Scale ≥ 5.5, duration of diagnosis, and income level; a multiple regression model was created with these variables, and the variables in the resulting model explained 26.4% of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. In addition, those with clinically significant symptom severity (MG-ADL ≥5.5) in daily living and those with severe fatigue (FSS ≥4) explained 17.2% of the PSQI scores, and the model was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

The study determined that the participants had clinically significant symptom severity in daily living, severe fatigue, and poor sleep quality. The participants with clinically significant severe symptoms in daily living and fatigue had higher sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, and poor sleep quality.