A nationwide epidemiological study of myasthenia gravis in Turkey.

BACKGROUND

Variable incidence and prevalence rates of myasthenia gravis (MG) have been reported over time from different geographical regions. We aimed to determine incidence and prevalence of MG in Turkey and contribute to the development of proper national health policies.

METHODS

Patients with G70.0 ICD-10 diagnosis were extracted from electronic health registry of Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health between 2015 and 2024 years. Incidence and prevalence rates were calculated using official census data of Turkish Statistical Institute.

RESULTS

28,360 patients were identified. The female-to-male ratio was 1.1/1.0. The mean age at the diagnosis was 53.60 ± 18.26. Late-onset MG constituted the 61.9% of the cases. Female predominance was significant in early onset MG (65.7%, p < 0.001). Incidence of MG for the years 2016-2023 varied between 2.22 and 3.59/100,000. In 2023, incidence rate of MG was 2.82/100,000 and prevalence rate was 28.21/100,000. Typical bimodal age and sex distribution were not observed. The age at diagnosis clustered between 40 and 60 years in females, and a late peak was observed between 60 and 80 years of age in males.

CONCLUSION

This is the first nationwide epidemiological study of MG in Turkey based on a national electronic health registry and this study contributes to the understanding of the epidemiology of MG by shifting the classical perception of MG from being "a disease of young women and old men" to "a disease of middle-aged women and older men" without a bimodal distribution.