UC Irvine

This study determined the frequency and impact of symptoms on quality of life in patients diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD). Participants with a diagnosis of LGMD in registries based at the Coalition to Cure Calpain-3, the Jain foundation, and the Global FKRP Registry competed a survey to report the frequency and relative impact of themes and symptoms of LGMD. Frequency, mean impact, and population impact scores were calculated, and responses were categorized by age, symptom duration, gender, employment status, use of assistive devices, and LGMD subtypes. 134 participants completed the survey. The most prevalent themes included an inability to do activities (100%), limitation with mobility (99.3%), and lower extremity weakness (97.0%). Themes with the greatest impact were: limitations with mobility, lower extremity weakness, and an inability to do activities. Symptom duration and the use of assistive devices were associated with the presence of multiple themes. Employment was associated with the impact of several themes with no differences in frequency. The prevalence and impact of these themes vary in the LMGD population. The most prevalent and impactful themes were related to weakness, but additional concerns related to emotional challenges should also be considered in clinical and research settings.