How common is myasthenia gravis, and is it becoming more prevalent?
MG affects roughly 75,000 to 100,000 people in the United States. To put that in perspective, about 37 out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. have MG, with approximately 3.2 new cases diagnosed per 100,000 people each year.
Globally, prevalence rates are Show Full Answer
How common is myasthenia gravis, and is it becoming more prevalent?
MG affects roughly 75,000 to 100,000 people in the United States. To put that in perspective, about 37 out of every 100,000 people in the U.S. have MG, with approximately 3.2 new cases diagnosed per 100,000 people each year.
Globally, prevalence rates are estimated at 150 to 200 cases per million people, though this may be lower than the actual number due to tracking challenges in some regions. MG is being diagnosed more frequently worldwide. Recent studies show that prevalence and incidence rates were more than twice as high in 2024 compared to 2010.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean MG itself is becoming more common. The increase is likely due to:
- Better awareness among healthcare providers
- Improved diagnostic methods
- More accurate reporting systems
- Fewer misdiagnoses
Many MGteam members have shared experiences of being misdiagnosed for years before finally getting the correct MG diagnosis. As one member noted, younger neurologists seem more aware of the condition now.
More research is needed to determine whether MG is truly on the rise or if doctors are simply getting better at recognizing it.
February 7
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