Health-related quality of life and its determinants in adults with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease: a nationwide study

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is a rare neuroimmunology demyelinating disorder. Evidence regarding health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its influencing factors among MOGAD patients remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate HRQoL profiles and identify independent predictors of impaired HRQoL in adult Chinese patients with MOGAD. A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was performed among adult Chinese MOGAD patients. Sociodemographic, clinical, and healthcare utilization data were collected, and the EQ-5D-5L scale was employed to quantify patient HRQoL. Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to determine independent factors associated with health utility. A total of 121 eligible MOGAD patients were included in the final analysis. The cohort’s mean EQ-5D-5L utility score was 0.812 ± 0.176, substantially lower than the normative value of the Chinese general population. Patients exhibited prominent impairments in anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort, while physical functioning, including self-care and mobility, remained well-preserved. Walking difficulty, higher comorbidity burden, recent emergency department attendance, and shorter disease duration were independent risk factors for reduced HRQoL. After full covariate adjustment, relapse status showed no independent association with HRQoL. Chinese MOGAD patients show unique HRQoL impairments mainly related to functional limitations, increased comorbidities, and recent emergency healthcare use. Targeted management focusing on physical function preservation, comorbidity control and mental health support, rather than merely relapse prevention, is crucial to optimize long-term patient quality of life. 1. Evidence on patient-reported quality of life in MOGAD remains scarce, particularly in Asian populations, and little is known about the independent factors that influence patients’ everyday health and well-being. 2. This nationwide study shows that Chinese adults with MOGAD experience substantial impairment in quality of life, particularly in anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort. While walking difficulty, comorbidities, and recent emergency department use, not relapse itself, are the main drivers of poorer quality of life. 3. These findings suggest that improving quality of life in MOGAD requires comprehensive, patient-centered care that addresses physical function, mental health, and comorbidities in addition to preventing disease relapses.