Hospitalizations for Myasthenia Gravis: Pre- and Post-COVID Trends
Author(s)
Naomi C. Sacks, PhD1, Ivar Jensen, MBA1, Phil Cyr, MPH1, Yanmei Liu, MS2, Xiaohui Jiang, MS3.
1BlueRidge Life Sciences, Boston, MA, USA, 2EpidStrategies, A Division of BlueRidge Life Sciences, Boston, MA, USA, 3EpidStrategies, A Division of BlueRidge Life Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
1BlueRidge Life Sciences, Boston, MA, USA, 2EpidStrategies, A Division of BlueRidge Life Sciences, Boston, MA, USA, 3EpidStrategies, A Division of BlueRidge Life Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare, neuromuscular disorder that can lead to severe muscle weakness. MG exacerbations include myasthenic crisis with respiratory failure (MG crisis), which can require mechanical ventilation and is the most serious MG manifestation. Recent studies report MG prevalence and MG hospitalization increases through 2019, but the impact of COVID on these hospitalizations is unexplored. This study examines the effects of COVID on MG hospitalizations and estimates post-COVID MG hospitalization trends in the US.
METHODS: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), an all-payer national database of hospital discharges (2016-2022), were used to characterize trends in weighted estimates of MG hospitalizations among adult patients age ≥18y overall, and for MG exacerbation (MGAE) and MG crisis subgroups. We used Poisson regression based on 2016-2019 hospitalizations to project estimates of MG hospitalizations through 2030.
RESULTS: MG hospitalizations increased 16% in the pre-COVID years 2016-2019 (from 9160 [95% CI: 8548, 9772] to 10615 [CI: 9989,11241]), with larger increases for MG crisis (26%; p<0.0001) and similar increases for MGAE (13%; p<0.0001). In 2020 (COVID), MG hospitalizations declined 17% relative to 2019, with smaller declines for MG crisis (8%) and larger declines for MGAE (21%). By 2022, MG hospitalization estimates were similar to pre-COVID 2019 (10415 [CI: 9759, 11071]), although MG crisis estimates were significantly higher (2915 [CI: 2622, 3208] vs. 2019: 2380 [CI: 2145, 2615]) and MGAE significantly lower (5025 [95% CI: 4631, 5419] vs. 2019: 5895 [CI: 5471, 6319]). Poisson regression estimated 17501 MG hospitalizations in 2030 a 65% increase relative to 2019, with large increases for MG crisis (5255; 126%) and MGAE (8851; 51%).
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing hospitalization rates pre- and post-COVID suggest a growing burden associated with MG, especially among the most serious MG crisis hospitalizations. Interventions that address MG may reduce manifestations that lead to MG and MG crisis hospitalizations.
METHODS: Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), an all-payer national database of hospital discharges (2016-2022), were used to characterize trends in weighted estimates of MG hospitalizations among adult patients age ≥18y overall, and for MG exacerbation (MGAE) and MG crisis subgroups. We used Poisson regression based on 2016-2019 hospitalizations to project estimates of MG hospitalizations through 2030.
RESULTS: MG hospitalizations increased 16% in the pre-COVID years 2016-2019 (from 9160 [95% CI: 8548, 9772] to 10615 [CI: 9989,11241]), with larger increases for MG crisis (26%; p<0.0001) and similar increases for MGAE (13%; p<0.0001). In 2020 (COVID), MG hospitalizations declined 17% relative to 2019, with smaller declines for MG crisis (8%) and larger declines for MGAE (21%). By 2022, MG hospitalization estimates were similar to pre-COVID 2019 (10415 [CI: 9759, 11071]), although MG crisis estimates were significantly higher (2915 [CI: 2622, 3208] vs. 2019: 2380 [CI: 2145, 2615]) and MGAE significantly lower (5025 [95% CI: 4631, 5419] vs. 2019: 5895 [CI: 5471, 6319]). Poisson regression estimated 17501 MG hospitalizations in 2030 a 65% increase relative to 2019, with large increases for MG crisis (5255; 126%) and MGAE (8851; 51%).
CONCLUSIONS: Increasing hospitalization rates pre- and post-COVID suggest a growing burden associated with MG, especially among the most serious MG crisis hospitalizations. Interventions that address MG may reduce manifestations that lead to MG and MG crisis hospitalizations.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH130
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
Neurological Disorders, Rare & Orphan Diseases, Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)