AUTHOR=Zhang Xiaoyun , Song Ying , Wei Zhiqiang , Chen Xiao , Zhuang Xiaojia , Yi Li 

TITLE=The prevalence and risk factors of anxiety in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=17

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1120541

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2023.1120541

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from repetitive neurological deterioration, while anxiety may play a significant role in the disease’s progression.</p></sec><sec><title>Objective</title><p>To explore the prevalence of anxiety in MS and to investigate the risk factors related to anxiety in MS patients.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>An analysis of four databases, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, has been conducted to determine the prevalence or risk factors for anxiety in MS published before May 2021.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>In total, 32 studies were found to be eligible. Anxiety prevalence was estimated to be 36% based on the pooled estimates [the 95% confidence interval (CI) = [0.30–0.42], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 98.4%]. Significant risk factors for developing of anxiety were as follows: age at survey [the weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.86–1.06], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 43.8%], female [the odd ratio (OR) = 1.78, 95% CI = [1.38–2.30], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0%], living together (OR 2.83, 95% CI = [1.74–4.59], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0%), past psychiatric history (OR 2.42, 95% CI = [1.56–3.75], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0%), depression (OR 7.89, 95% CI = [3.71–16.81], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0%), not taking MS medication (OR 2.33, 95% CI = [1.29–4.21], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 77.8%), relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) (OR 1.50, 95% CI = [0.94–2.37], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 53.5%), and baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (OR 0.84, 95% CI = [0.48–1.21], <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 62.2%).</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>An estimated 36% of people with MS suffer from anxiety. And anxiety rates in MS patients are significantly associated with age, gender, living together, prior psychiatric history, depression, drug compliance, RRMS, and baseline EDSS.</p></sec><sec><title>Systematic review registration</title><p><ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=287069" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=287069</ext-link>, identifier CRD42021287069.</p></sec>