Impact of COVID-19 Infection and Its Association With Previous Vaccination in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis in...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Immunology

Background:

• Patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) face heightened risks from COVID-19 due to respiratory muscle weakness and immunotherapy.
• Early pandemic studies indicated higher COVID-19 mortality in MG patients compared to the general population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical course and prognosis of COVID-19 in myasthenia gravis patients.
• To compare COVID-19 outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated myasthenia gravis patients in South Korea.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, retrospective study analyzed medical records of 92 myasthenia gravis patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, MG, and vaccination status were collected from February to April 2022.
• COVID-19 and MG clinical outcomes were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated patient groups.

Main Results:

• Vaccinated patients (75/92) showed significantly lower hospitalization rates (4.0% vs. 35.3%) compared to unvaccinated patients (17/92).
• Intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation were significantly less frequent in vaccinated individuals.
• Vaccination was associated with a significantly lower rate of myasthenia gravis deterioration post-COVID-19 infection.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19's clinical course and prognosis appear milder in vaccinated myasthenia gravis patients, especially during the Omicron variant's dominance.
• Vaccination is crucial for reducing COVID-19 morbidity and preventing infection-induced myasthenia gravis deterioration.