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Observational Study
. 2024 Sep 17;95(10):919-926.
doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2023-333097.

Epidemiology of myasthenia gravis in Denmark, Finland and Sweden: a population-based observational study

John Vissing  1 , Sari Atula  2 , Mari Savolainen  3 , Juha Mehtälä  4 , Laila Mehkri  5 , Tina Bech Olesen  5 , Tero Ylisaukko-Oja  4 , Ingrid Lindberg-Schager  6 , Fredrik Berggren  7 , Fredrik Piehl  8   9
Affiliations
Observational Study

Epidemiology of myasthenia gravis in Denmark, Finland and Sweden: a population-based observational study

John Vissing et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Incidence and prevalence rates of myasthenia gravis (MG) vary considerably across studies, and mortality risk is rarely addressed. We examined the prevalence and incidence rates, mortality and factors associated with mortality with MG.

Method: This was a registry linkage study based on nationwide health and administrative registries of Denmark, Finland and Sweden (populations of 5.9, 5.6 and 10.5 million, respectively). Patients with MG were identified based on International Classification of Diseases codes from inpatient and outpatient specialised care registries. Yearly prevalence, incidence and mortality rates in relation to the total background population were calculated from 2000 to 2020 (study period). The causes of death and factors associated with mortality were addressed separately.

Results: The overall incidence of MG was 1.34 (95% CI 1.27 to 1.41), 1.68 (95% CI 1.60 to 1.75) and 1.62 (95% CI 1.56 to 1.68) per 100 000, and the overall prevalence per 100 000 was 18.56 (95% CI 18.31 to 18.81), 20.89 (95% CI 20.62 to 21.16) and 23.42 (95% CI 23.21 to 23.64) in Denmark, Finland and Sweden, respectively. The overall standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was 1.32 (95% CI 1.23 to 1.42) among patients with MG in Denmark, 1.23 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.33) in Finland, and 1.20 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.26) in Sweden, with higher SMR observed in women than men. Annual incidence and prevalence increased over time, whereas the SMR remained stable. The most common causes of death were MG, chronic ischaemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction.

Conclusions: This population-based study from three Nordic countries highlights the need for improved care of patients with MG, especially young women.

Keywords: CLINICAL NEUROLOGY; EPIDEMIOLOGY; MYASTHENIA.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: JV: Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, Sarepta Therapeutics, Novartis Pharma AG, Fulcrum Therapeutics, Biogen, Lupin, Amicus, Regeneron, Argenx BVBA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Arvinas, ML Biopharma, Atamyo Therapeutics, Horizon Therapeutics, Dyne Therapeutics, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Edgewise Therapeutics, Genethon, Reneo Pharma, Pharnext, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Khondrion, Dynacure SAS. SA: Merck, Roche, Biogen, Novartis, UCB Pharma, Lundbeck. MS was previously an employee of UCB Pharma, Espoo, Finland. JM is an employee of MedEngine Oy, Finland. LM was previously an employee of MedEngine DK ApS, Denmark. TBO is an employee of MedEngine DK ApS, Denmark. TY-o is the owner of MedEngine Oy and MedEngine DK ApS. IL-S is an employee of UCB Pharma, Stockholm, Sweden. FB is an employee and stockholder of UCB Pharma, Copenhagen, Denmark. FP: Janssen, Merck KGaA, UCB, Chugai, Lundbeck, Roche, Novartis.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Incidence (A) and prevalence (B) of myasthenia gravis per 100 000 persons in the incident subcohort in Denmark (DK), Finland (FI) and Sweden (SE) in years 2000–2020.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Standardised mortality ratio of myasthenia gravis in the prevalent subcohort in Denmark (DK), Finland (FI) and Sweden (SE) in years 2000–2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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