Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Lebanon: A rising prevalence in the middle east

Abstract

BackgroundThe epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been studied in many countries of the Middle East but the prevalence and incidence of MS in Lebanon is still unknown. ObjectivesTo determine the incidence and prevalence of MS in Lebanon. MethodsLebanese patients diagnosed with MS between January 2018 and December 2018 were identified using the database of governmental third-party payers. The crude, age- and sex-specific 2018 prevalence and incidence among Lebanese patients were calculated. Results2248 MS patients were identified of whom 67.1% were women (female: male ratio 2:1) with a mean age of 41.8 ± 12.96 years. The 2018 prevalence of MS was 62.91 cases per 100,000 persons (95% CI: 60.41 - 65.41). The overall incidence of MS in Lebanon was 8.36 cases per 100,000 (95% CI: 7.45 – 9.27) with a mean age at onset of 34.5 ± 12.5 years. ConclusionThis is the first study to assess prevalence and incidence of MS in Lebanon, confirming that Lebanon is a moderate to high-risk area for MS. Those high rates are commensurate with recently published studies from the Middle East, pointing to a significant rise in incidence and prevalence of this disease in our region.