Factors predicting the outcomes of elderly hospitalized myasthenia gravis patients: a national database study

Abstract

Background

Myasthenia gravis (MG) in elderly populations is increasing. This study aimed to evaluate predictors for treatment outcomes in elderly hospitalized MG patients using the national database.

Methods

We collected data of elderly hospitalized MG patients from the National Health Security Office from October 2009 to September 2010. Predictors for treatment outcomes were examined.

Results

During the study period, 1,948 identified MG patients were admitted to hospitals throughout Thailand. Of those, 441 patients (22.64%) were aged ≥ 60 years. There were 66 patients (14.97%) who had poor outcomes. There were only three significant factors in the final model. Presence of pneumonia, use of mechanical ventilators, and septicemia had adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 2.83 (1.03, 7.75), 5.33 (2.24, 12.72), and 4.47 (1.86, 10.75), respectively.

Conclusion

Pneumonia, being on a mechanical ventilator, and septicemia were independent factors associated with poor treatment outcomes in elderly hospitalized MG patients according to national data.

Keywords:

• pneumonia
• ventilator
• mortality
• predictor

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr Dylan Southard for his kind English editing of the manuscript via Research Affair, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand; the Thailand Research Fund (TRF): IRG 5780016, and the Higher Education Research Promotion National Research University Project of Thailand, Office of the Higher Education Commission through the Health Cluster (SHeP-GMS), Thailand; the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University grant number TR57201; the TRF Senior Research Scholar Grant, Thailand Research Fund grant number RTA5880001; and grant of Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand (Grant Number RG59301).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.