Prevalence, characteristics, and treatment outcome of multiple sclerosis in Africa: a systematic review

被引：0

作者：

Nicholas Aderinto ^{[1
]}

Gbolahan Olatunji ^{[2
]}

Emmanuel Kokori ^{[2
]}

Israel Charles Abraham ^{[2
]}

Bonaventure Michael Ukoaka ^{[3
]}

Ismaila Yusuf ^{[4
]}

Adefusi Temiloluwa Oluwakorede ^{[5
]}

Adetola Emmanuel Babalola ^{[6
]}

Olaewe David Opeyemi ^{[7
]}

Tajuddeen Adam Wali ^{[8
]}

Adedoyin Veronica Babalola ^{[9
]}

Ibukunoluwa Ishola ^{[10
]}

机构：

[1] Ladoke Akintola University of Technology,Department of Medicine and Surgery

[2] University of Ilorin,Department of Medicine and Surgery

[3] Asokoro District Hospital,Department of Internal Medicine

[4] Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex,Department of Anaesthesia

[5] Lagos State University College of Medicine,Faculty of Dentistry, College of Medicine

[6] University of Ibadan,Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences

[7] Federal Medical Centre,Faculty of Clinical Science, College of Medicine

[8] College of Health Sciences,undefined

[9] Bayero University Kano,undefined

[10] University of Ibadan,undefined

[11] Benjamin Carson (Snr) College of Health and Medical Sciences,undefined

[12] Babcock University,undefined

来源：

Discover Medicine | / 2卷 / 1期

关键词：

Multiple sclerosis (MS); Prevalence; Clinical characteristics; Treatment outcomes; Africa;

D O I：

10.1007/s44337-025-00294-w

中图分类号：

学科分类号：

摘要：

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease affecting myelinated axons in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to significant neurological disability. While extensively studied in high-prevalence regions, its epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes in Africa remain underexplored. This systematic review examines available literature on the prevalence, demographic distribution, clinical presentation, and treatment approaches for MS in Africa. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was performed across PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Embase, and Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, African Journals Online (AJOL), and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Search terms included “Multiple Sclerosis,” “MS,” “Prevalence,” “Characteristics,” “Treatment Outcomes,” and “Africa.” Studies were included if they reported on MS prevalence, clinical characteristics, or treatment outcomes in Africa. The search identified 116 articles, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria, covering 3,431,575 participants from Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, South Africa, Sudan, and Tunisia. MS prevalence varied significantly, with Algeria reporting the prevalence (103 per 100,000) and South Africa exhibiting racial disparities in disease burden. A consistent female predominance was observed, with female-to-male ratios ranging from 1.4:1 to 4:1. The mean age at diagnosis ranged from 19 to 72 years. Relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) was the most common subtype, accounting for 76–79.5% of cases, followed by secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and primary progressive MS (PPMS). Diagnostic criteria varied, with most studies using the McDonald criteria, while some relied on the Poser criteria or WHO guidelines. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) were inconsistently used due to financial and logistical barriers. Intravenous methylprednisolone and corticosteroids were frequently administered for acute exacerbations, though access to newer therapies was limited. MS is increasingly recognized in Africa, yet significant regional variability exists in prevalence, clinical presentation, and treatment access. The findings show the urgent need for improved diagnostic capacity, equitable treatment access, and research on MS in African populations. Addressing these gaps is essential to optimizing patient outcomes and advancing understanding of MS in low-resource settings.

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