Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Symposium 2

The MG-QOL15 Japanese version: validation and associations with clinical factors

Masayuki Masuda, M.D.1), Kimiaki Utsugisawa, M.D.2), Shigeaki Suzuki, M.D.3), Yuriko Nagane, M.D.2), Suguru Ito, M.D.1), Chiaki Kabasawa, M.D.4), Yasushi Suzuki, M.D.5), Yuko Shimizu, M.D.4), Hiroya Utsumi, M.D.1), Kazuo Fujihara, M.D.6), Shinichiro Uchiyama, M.D.4) and Norihiro Suzuki, M.D.3)

1)Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University
2)Department of Neurology, Hanamaki General Hospital
3)Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine
4)Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University
5)Department of Neurology, Sendai Medical Center
6)Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

We produced a Japanese translation of the 15-item myasthenia gravis (MG)-specific quality of life (QOL) scale (MG-QOL15), assessed its reliability and validity, and examined clinical factors affecting the self-perceived QOL in MG. Consecutive 327 patients with MG seen at six neurological centers were evaluated. All patients completed an MG-QOL15 Japanese version (MG-QOL15-J), the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II), and a generic health-related QOL questionnaire, the SF-36. Disease severity was determined according to the MG Foundation of America (MGFA) quantitative MG score and the MG composite. The MG-QOL15-J exhibited adequate internal reliability, test-retest repeatability, and concurrent validity with SF-36, disease severity, and known-patient groups categorized by MGFA postintervention status. Multivariate analysis revealed severity, dose of oral corticosteroids, and BDI-II as independent factors negatively affecting QOL. The MG-QOL15-J is anticipated to be a valuable clinical measure of QOL in Japanese patients with MG.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (309K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 52: 1043|1046, 2012)
key words: cross-sectional study, health-related quality of life, myasthenia gravis, questionnaire, validity

(Received: 23-May-12)