The Prevalence of Multiple Sclerosis in the Middle East

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Middle East has been reported to be low to medium. Methods: To verify this assertion we conducted a review of published data on the occurrence of MS in the Middle East.Results: Fourteen studies reporting on the prevalence of MS in the Middle East were initially identified, 5 of which were excluded due to inadequate data or serious methodological limitations. The data from the 9 included studies suggested that the prevalence of MS may vary widely within the Middle East, from low to high. However, these 9 studies were inconsistent in case ascertainment, inclusion criteria and methods of prevalence calculation, and most did not include age/sex standardization. Conclusion: Methodological inconsistencies among studies make it difficult to be confident in drawing conclusions about the prevalence of MS in the Middle East. Nevertheless, there is little evidence to support the assertion that the prevalence of MS in the Middle East is low to medium. Rather, the prevalence of MS in the Middle East may range from low to high, depending on the specific population and environment of study. However, to confirm these findings, further epidemiological research is needed.

A 20-Year Incidence Trend (1989–2008) and Point Prevalence (March 20, 2009) of Multiple Sclerosis in Tehran, Iran: A Population-Based Study

“…Our finding of an overall prevalence rate of 55.98/ 100,000 population is higher than that of the last report from Iran [12] and is the highest rate ever reported from the Middle-East countries except Israel [7] .…”

Incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in southeastern Iran

“…However, we cannot draw a definite conclusion about the prevalence of MS in Middle-Eastern countries due to methodological inconsistencies among published studies. Nevertheless, we can conclude that the prevalence in those countries is escalating, and it depends on the specific population and environment of the study [28].…”

“…In Kuwait the reported crude prevalence has increased from 10/100,000 in 1980 [26] to 14.7/100,000 in 2000 [27]. The prevalence among a pure Kuwaitis population was 11.02/100,000 in 1993 and increased to 31.15/100,000 in 2000 [28]. The reported prevalence in Jordan was 7/100,000 [29] but recently it has been reported to be 32/100,000 in one study [30] and 39 per 100,000 in another [31].…”

Multiple sclerosis in the Levant: a regional consensus statement

“…However, Al-Hashel et al published a paper in 2008 about the epidemiology of MS in the Middle East, including Syria [7]. They concluded that it was difficult to draw any definite conclusions regarding the prevalence of MS in the Middle East due to methodological inconsistencies in published studies.…”

“…A substantial increase in MS incidence has been reported from different countries within the Levant region [3][4][5][6][7]. If such an increase reflects a real change in incidence, it can reasonably be attributed to environmental factors since population genetics shapes the disease at a much slower rate.…”