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Prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Background

Prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is increasing world-wide. Iran is not exception. As the prevalence reported differently in various provinces, we designed this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate pooled prevalence of MS in Iran.

Methods

Two researchers systematically searched Scientific Information Database (SID), PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and google scholar. They also searched references of the included studies, and conference abstracts which were published up to April 2021. The search strategy included the MeSH and text words as ((((Multiple Sclerosis OR Sclerosis, Multiple) OR Sclerosis, Disseminated) OR Dis-seminated Sclerosis) OR MS (Multiple Sclerosis)) OR Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating)) AND (prevalence OR prevalences OR period prevalence OR prevalence, period OR point prevalence OR point prevalences OR prevalence, point) AND (Iran OR Islamic Republic of Iran)))).

Results

The literature search revealed 2817 articles, after deleting duplicates 2184 remained. For the systematic review, 34 studies were included. The prevalence is highest in Tehran and lowest in Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces. The pooled prevalence was 0.001 (95% CI: 0.000–0.001) (I2=0, P<0.001).

Conclusion

The results of this study show that the pooled prevalence of MS in Iran is 100 in 100,000 which is high. The prevalence in provinces increases dramatically.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Omid Mirmosayyeb & Vahid Shaygannejad

  2. Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Omid Mirmosayyeb, Vahid Shaygannejad, Sara Bagherieh & Ali Mahdi Hosseinabadi

  3. Universal Council of Epidemiology (UCE), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran

    Omid Mirmosayyeb & Mahsa Ghajarzadeh

  4. Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mahsa Ghajarzadeh

Authors
  1. Omid Mirmosayyeb
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  2. Vahid Shaygannejad
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  3. Sara Bagherieh
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  4. Ali Mahdi Hosseinabadi
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  5. Mahsa Ghajarzadeh
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Correspondence to Mahsa Ghajarzadeh.

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Mirmosayyeb, O., Shaygannejad, V., Bagherieh, S. et al. Prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurol Sci 43, 233–241 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05750-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-021-05750-w

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