Identification of international classification of functioning, disability and health relevant categories to describe functioning and disability of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Purpose: To describe functioning and health of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and to identify which are the most common problems patients encounter, by using the international classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF).

Method: Adult patients with MG were recruited at C. Besta Neurological Institute. The ICF checklist was administered in individual sessions. Categories were identified as relevant if they were reported as a problem by more than 30% of patients (within activities and participation, the threshold was counted on capacity qualifier).

Results: One hundred two patients were enrolled (mean age 47.2; inpatients were 29.4%, females 68.6%) and 54 ICF categories were selected: 14 body functions categories (26% out of total selected categories), 2 body structures (4%), 22 activities and participation categories (41%) and 16 environmental factors (29%). Environmental factors were essentially reported as facilitators.

Conclusions: Twelve ICF categories, not contained in ICF core-sets for neurological condition, related to mobility, household and labour activities were identified. The ICF categories identified in this study are an useful guideline for clinicians and researchers, for monitoring interventions and follow-up of clinical conditions on a broad set of functional areas, and for developing ICF-based assessment tools for patients with MG.