The prevalence of multiple sclerosis continues to increase in Kuwait
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Amiri Hospital, Arabian Gulf Street, Sharq, 11013, Kuwait. Electronic address: alroughani@gmail.com.
- Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
- Department of Neurology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait; Department of Neurology & Psychiatry, Minia University, Egypt.
- Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology Unit, Al-Bahar Eye Center, Kuwait.
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Amiri Hospital, Arabian Gulf Street, Sharq, 11013, Kuwait.
- Department of Neurology, Ibn Sina Hospital, Kuwait; Department of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Abstract
Background: The national MS registry was established in 2010 to assess the change in epidemiological status. The last reported data of the prevalence and incidence in Kuwait was in 2013.
Objectives: To update the prevalence and incidence rates of MS among Kuwaiti nationals.
Methods: Using the national MS registry, a cross sectional study was conducted to estimate the number of all patients diagnosed with MS and clinically isolated syndrome suggestive of MS. The diagnosis was based on the revised 2017 McDonald criteria. The population census was acquired from the Public Authority of Civil Information.
Results: On 30th June 2018, 1454 Kuwaiti MS patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria. Women represented 66.8% of the analyzed cohort with female to male ratio of 2.01:1. The crude prevalence of MS was 104.88 (95% CI: 89.5-121.9) per 100,000 persons, which increased 1.6 times since 2013. Age-adjusted prevalence peaked in the 30-39 and 40-49 year age groups in both females and male, with a decreasing tendency beyond 50 years of age. The incidence of MS was 5.39 (95% CI: 4.3-6.8) per 100,000 persons. The 5-year incidence was 6.4 per 100,000, which has been stable since the last reported rate.
Conclusion: The prevalence of MS in Kuwaiti nationals continued to increase reflecting a better case ascertainment and improved awareness and referrals across the country. However, the incidence has stabilized in the last 5 years which was mostly driven by a slight decline in newly diagnosed cases in women compared to men despite the increase in the overall female to male ratio.
Keywords: Epidemiology; Incidence; Kuwait; Multiple sclerosis; Prevalence.
Similar articles
Increasing prevalence and incidence rates of multiple sclerosis in Kuwait.
Alroughani R, Ahmed SF, Behbahani R, Khan R, Thussu A, Alexander KJ, Ashkanani A, Nagarajan V, Al-Hashel J.Mult Scler. 2014 Apr;20(5):543-7. doi: 10.1177/1352458513504328. Epub 2013 Sep 11.PMID: 24025709
Joinpoint Regression Analysis of Trends in Multiple Sclerosis Incidence in Kuwait: 1980-2019.
Akhtar S, Al-Abkal J, Alroughani R.Neuroepidemiology. 2020;54(6):472-481. doi: 10.1159/000511205. Epub 2020 Nov 11.PMID: 33176327
Age-Period-Cohort Modeling of Multiple Sclerosis Incidence Rates in Kuwait: 1980-2014.
Akhtar S, Al-Abkal J, Al-Hashel JY, Alroughani R.Neuroepidemiology. 2017;49(3-4):152-159. doi: 10.1159/000484318. Epub 2017 Nov 21.PMID: 29161697
Epidemiology of pediatric multiple sclerosis: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
Yan K, Balijepalli C, Desai K, Gullapalli L, Druyts E.Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2020 Sep;44:102260. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102260. Epub 2020 Jun 4.PMID: 32540746 Review.
Gender differences in multiple sclerosis epidemiology and treatment response.
Magyari M.Dan Med J. 2016 Mar;63(3):B5212.PMID: 26931196 Review.
Cited by
Impact of the first Gulf war on multiple sclerosis risk in Kuwait: a quasi-experimental study.
Akhtar S, Al-Hashel JY, Alroughani R.BMC Neurol. 2023 Jul 5;23(1):259. doi: 10.1186/s12883-023-03295-3.PMID: 37407920 Free PMC article.
Alroughani R, Van Wijmeersch B, Al Khaboori J, Alsharoqi IA, Ahmed SF, Hassan A, Inshasi J, Krieger DW, Shakra M, Shatila AO, Szolics M, Khallaf M, Ezzat A.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2020 Sep 16;13:1756286420954119. doi: 10.1177/1756286420954119. eCollection 2020.PMID: 32973927 Free PMC article. Review.
Replication analysis of variants associated with multiple sclerosis risk.
Dashti M, Ateyah K, Alroughani R, Al-Temaimi R.Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 30;10(1):7327. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-64432-3.PMID: 32355262 Free PMC article.
Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia, a descriptive study.
AlJumah M, Bunyan R, Al Otaibi H, Al Towaijri G, Karim A, Al Malik Y, Kalakatawi M, Alrajeh S, Al Mejally M, Algahtani H, Almubarak A, Cupler E, Alawi S, Qureshi S, Nahrir S, Almalki A, Alhazzani A, Althubaiti I, Alzahrani N, Mohamednour E, Saeedi J, Ishak S, Almudaiheem H, El-Metwally A, Al-Jedai A.BMC Neurol. 2020 Feb 8;20(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s12883-020-1629-3.PMID: 32035478 Free PMC article.