Social provisions in patients with mitochondrial diseases

Background: Mitochondrial diseases often follow a chronic, multimorbid disease course in adults. Like other chronic conditions, mitochondrial diseases present a challenge to public and community health models and patients are potentially at higher risk of social isolation and loneliness. However, there is lack of data on social provisions in mitochondrial diseases.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional observational study on patients with a confirmed genetic or clinical diagnosis of mitochondrial disease, recruited between September 2018 and December 2021. Participants completed the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) as a measure of social support. Designated carers similarly completed the SPS in carer-specific questionnaires.

Results: 95 mitochondrial disease patients and 24 designated carers completed the SPS. Social provisions were met for all six subscales of SPS in the mitochondrial disease cohort: (1) guidance 90.5% (n=86), (2) reassurance of self-worth 82.8% (n=77), (3) social integration 88.4% (n=84), (4) attachment 83.2% (n=79), (5) opportunity of nurturance, 61.1% (n=58) and (6) reliable alliance 95.8% (n=91). All social provisions were also met in the carer cohort.

Conclusion: Patients with mitochondrial diseases and their carers demonstrate a high perceived level of social support in the setting of a tertiary referral centre specialised in mitochondrial disease despite the burden of chronic disease.