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Weronika Jung Plath

Medical University of Gdansk, Poland

Title: Assessment of the functioning of patients with myasthenia gravis

Abstract

Introduction: Myasthenia gravis is an immune-mediated disease associated with a disorder of the neuromuscular junction. MG belongs to the group of chronic diseases with variable clinical courses. Patients struggling with this disease must remain under the constant care of a neurologist and take medications regularly. Talking about myasthenia gravis, we can divide it into two forms: ocular and generalized. In patients with the generalized form, a lower level of quality of life can be observed. As patients age, their quality of life increases. This may be due to the fact that younger people, leading a more active life, find it more difficult to accept disabilities resulting from the disease.

Aim: The main aim of the study was to present myasthenia gravis in relation to the assessment of patients' functioning. The paper also presents the problems faced by patients with MG.

Material and methods: To write the above work, an analysis of the literature and a diagnostic survey were used, an original questionnaire consisting of three parts and six ready-made scales was used.

Results: The study showed that the quality of life of patients with myasthenia gravis is reduced. A lower level of quality of life can be observed among women, younger people and those suffering from the general form of this disease. Myasthenia gravis negatively affects the daily functioning of patients. The negative impact of physical, mental and general fatigue as well as the degree of everyday life difficulties due to fatigue on the quality of life of patients with MG was also demonstrated. In the case of myasthenia gravis, however, we must distinguish between fatigue and muscle fatigue.

Conclusions: Myasthenia gravis and the problems faced by people with this disease is a topic rarely discussed in scientific works. The quality of life of this group of patients is significantly reduced, which contributes to the occurrence of anxiety and depression among this group of patients. The biggest problem among MG patients is fatigue, which has a significant impact on their quality of life. More attention should be paid to the problem of quality of life and more research related to this topic should be carried out in the future.

Key words: Myasthenia gravis, quality of life, fatigue, activity of daily living

Biography

Weronika Jung Plath - Master of Science in Nursing. During specialization training in anesthetic and intensive care nursing. She conducts practical classes in neurological nursing in the field of nursing at the Medical University of Gdańsk. The main area of interest are rare neurological diseases, in particular myasthenia gravis and ALS. She works as a nurse at the University Clinical Center in Gdańsk in the Department of Intensive Neurological Supervision in the Adult Neurology Clinic. She published an article on the assessment of quality of life among patients with myasthenia gravis in the journal of Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing.