The oculobulbar facial respiratory score is a tool to assess bulbar function in myasthenia gravis patients

The Oculobulbar Facial Respiratory (OBFR) score is a tool that objectively measures bulbar function in myasthenia gravis (MG). In this study, we analyzed the relation between the OBFR and the MG Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) score, and also with the more recently described MG Composite and 15-item MG Quality-of-Life (MG-QOL15) scales. We recruited 42 patients from two centers and assessed them on two occasions, approximately 6 months apart, using the OBFR, MG Composite, MG-ADL, and MG-QOL15 scales. The 'modified' OBFR score was derived from the original OBFR score. The OBFR score correlated significantly with the MG Composite, MG-ADL, and MG-QOL15 scores for both assessments, and with the sum of the bulbar items for all three scores. It also correlated strongly with the individual bulbar-related items of all three scores. The 'modified' OBFR score also correlated significantly with all the aforementioned scores. This study confirmed construct validity of the OBFR and 'modified' OBFR scores.