Survey Reveals Nearly 40% of Myasthenia Gravis Patients Required ICU Care
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong Myasthenia Gravis Association unveiled concerning survey results highlighting the treatment difficulties experienced by local myasthenia gravis patients. The survey found that nearly 40% of patients who required hospitalization needed intensive care unit (ICU) admission for emergency treatment, while over 90% expressed hopes that the Hospital Authority would include internationally approved precision medicines in its drug formulary. The association is urging the government to accelerate drug approvals by learning from practices in Australia, South Korea, and Canada.
Key Points
- Myasthenia gravis is a rare autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1,000 to 1,500 patients in Hong Kong, with nearly half developing symptoms before age 40 .
- Over 50% of patients continue experiencing symptoms such as limb weakness, blurred vision, and abnormal fatigue despite taking medication or receiving steroid treatment .
- Nearly 25% of survey respondents reported experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, indicating significant psychological burden on patients .
- Over 20% of patients visited emergency departments due to condition deterioration within the past two years, with nearly 40% of hospitalized patients requiring ICU care .
- Neurologist Dr. Lau Yuk-lun noted that new-generation C5 complement inhibitors can reduce exacerbation risk by nearly 80% and decrease steroid usage .
Why It Matters
The survey findings underscore an urgent need for Hong Kong to modernize its approach to rare autoimmune disease treatment. With current treatment options proving inadequate for a significant portion of patients—including repeated ICU admissions and severe psychological impacts—the introduction of internationally approved precision medicines could substantially improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Legislative Council member Hung Kam-him emphasized the importance of government action, calling for faster approval processes and subsidies to ensure patients can access life-changing treatments sooner.
The survey findings underscore an urgent need for Hong Kong to modernize its approach to rare autoimmune disease treatment. With current treatment options proving inadequate for a significant portion of patients—including repeated ICU admissions and severe psychological impacts—the introduction of internationally approved precision medicines could substantially improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Legislative Council member Hung Kam-him emphasized the importance of government action, calling for faster approval processes and subsidies to ensure patients can access life-changing treatments sooner.