Prevalence of multimorbidity in community settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Background: With ageing world populations, multimorbidity (presence of two or more chronic diseases in the same individual) becomes a major concern in public health. Although multimorbidity is associated with age, its prevalence varies. This systematic review aimed to summarise and meta-analyse the prevalence of multimorbidity in high, low- and middle-income countries (HICs and LMICs). Methods: Studies were identified by searching electronic databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Global Health, Web of Science and Cochrane Library). The term ‘multimorbidity’ and its various spellings were used, alongside ‘prevalence’ or ‘epidemiology’. Quality assessment employed the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Overall and stratified analyses according to multimorbidity operational definitions, HICs/LMICs status, gender and age were performed. A random-effects model for meta-analysis was used. Results: Seventy community-based studies (conducted in 18 HICs and 31 LMICs) were included in the final sample. Sample sizes ranged from 264 to 162,464. The overall pooled prevalence of multimorbidity was 33.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 30.0–36.3%). There was a considerable difference in the pooled estimates between HICs and LMICs, with prevalence being 37.9% (95% CI: 32.5–43.4%) and 29.7% (26.4–33.0%), respectively. Heterogeneity across studies was high for both overall and stratified analyses ( I 2 > 99%). A sensitivity analysis showed that none of the reviewed studies skewed the overall pooled estimates. Conclusion: A large proportion of the global population, especially those aged 65+, is affected by multimorbidity. To allow accurate estimations of disease burden, and effective disease management and resources distribution, a standardised operationalisation of multimorbidity is needed.

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Seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 infection in Low and Middle-Income Countries and risk classification in the context of rolling out vaccine candidate across these countries : Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-578481/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Martin Ackah ◽

Louise Ameyaw ◽

Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo ◽

Cynthia Osei Yeboah ◽

Nana Esi Wood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Vaccine Candidate ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Research Database ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Seroprevalence of SARS Cov-2 provides a good indication of the extent of exposure and spread in the population, as well as those likely to benefit from a vaccine candidate. To date, there is no published or ongoing systematic review on the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This systematic review and meta-analysis will estimate SARS Cov-2 seroprevalence and the risk factors for SARS Cov-2 infection in LMICs.Methods We will search PubMed, EMBASE, WHO COVID-19 Global research database, Google Scholar, the African Journals Online, LILAC, HINARI, medRxiv, bioRxiv and Cochrane Library for potentially useful studies on seroprevalence of COVID-19 in LMICs from December 2019 to December 2020 without language restriction. Two authors will independently screen all the articles, select studies based on pre-specified eligibility criteria and extract data using a pre-tested data extraction form. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion between the authors. The pooled seroprevalence of SARS CoV-2 for people from LMICs will be calculated. Random effects model will be used in case of substantial heterogeneity in the included studies, otherwise fixed-effect model will be used. A planned subgroup, sensitivity and meta-regression analyses will be performed. For comparative studies, the analyses will be performed using Review Manager v 5.4; otherwise, STATA 16 will be used. All effect estimates will be presented with their confidence intervals.Discussion The study will explore and systematically review empirical evidence on SARS Cov-2 seroprevalence in LMICs, and to assess the risk factors for SARS Cov-2 infection in Low Middle Income Countries in the context of rolling out vaccines in these countries. Finally, explore risk classifications to help with the rolling out of vaccines in LMICs.Systematic review registration: The protocol for this review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD422020221548).

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Efficacy of zinc as adjunctive pneumonia treatment in children aged 2 to 60 months in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Paediatrics Open ◽

10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000662 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. e000662 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nick Brown ◽

Antti Juhani Kukka ◽

Andreas Mårtensson

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Treatment Failure ◽

Low Income ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Severe Pneumonia ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries

BackgroundDespite advances in vaccination and case management, pneumonia remains the single largest contributor to early child mortality worldwide. Zinc has immune-enhancing properties, but its role in adjunctive treatment of pneumonia in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is controversial and research still active.MethodsSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of zinc and placebo in pneumonia in children aged 2 to 60 months in LMICs. Databases included MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, LILACS, SciELO, the WHO portal, Scopus, Google Scholar and ClinicalTrials.gov. Inclusion criteria included accepted signs of pneumonia and clear measure of outcome. Risk of bias was independently assessed by two authors. ORs with 95% CI were used for calculating the pooled estimate of dichotomous outcomes including treatment failure and mortality. Time to recovery was expressed as HRs. Sensitivity analyses considering risk of bias and subgroup analyses for pneumonia severity were performed.ResultsWe identified 11 trials published between 2004 and 2019 fulfilling the a priori defined criteria, 7 from South Asia and 3 from Africa and 1 from South America. Proportional treatment failure was comparable in both zinc and placebo groups when analysed for all patients (OR 0.95 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.14)) and only for those with severe pneumonia (OR 0.93 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.14)). No difference was seen in mortality between zinc and placebo groups (OR 0.64 (95% CI 0.31 to 1.31)). Time to recovery from severe pneumonia did not differ between the treatment and control groups for patients with severe pneumonia (HR 1.01 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.14)). Removal of four studies with high risk of bias made no difference to the conclusions.ConclusionThere is no evidence that adjunctive zinc treatment improves recovery from pneumonia in children in LMICs.Trial registration numberCRD42019141602.

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Self-Medication with Antibiotics among University Students in LMIC: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.11359 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (08) ◽

pp. 678-689 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rixiang Xu ◽

Tingyu Mu ◽

Guan Wang ◽

Jing Shi ◽

Xin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

University Students ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Antibiotic Use ◽

Self Medication ◽

Middle Income ◽

Inappropriate Use ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Effective Interventions ◽

Pooled Prevalence

Introduction: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is common among university students in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, there has been no meta-analysis and systematic review in the population. Methodology: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for the period from January 2000 to July 2018. Only observational studies that had SMA among university students from LMICs were included. A random-effects model was applied to calculate the pooled effect size with 95% confidence interval (CI) due to the expected heterogeneity (I2 over 50%). Results: The pooled prevalence of SMA of overall included studies was 46.0% (95% CI: 40.3% to 51.8%). Africa had the highest pooled prevalence of SMA among university students (55.30%), whereas South America had the lowest prevalence (38.3%). Among individual LMICs, the prevalence of SMA among university students varied from as low as 11.1% in Brazil to 90.7% in Congo. Conclusions: The practice of SMA is a widespread phenomenon among university students in LMICs and is frequently associated with inappropriate use. Effective interventions such as medication education and stricter governmental regulation concerning antibiotic use and sale are required to be established in order to deal with SMA properly.

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Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.22657 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xiao Shi ◽

Qi Chen ◽

Fen Wang

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Primary Biliary Cholangitis ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

BACKGROUND Previous studies have implicated the co-existence of psychological disorders and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, the exact magnitude of the prevalence and related score of depression and anxiety in patients with PBC are still unclear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the prevalence and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores for depression and anxiety in patients with PBC. METHODS A comprehensive search of studies published before June 10, 2020 was performed in databases of PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Methodological quality was assessed based on the Newcastle - Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool. RESULTS Twelve studies were identified, representing 933 patients with PBC. Pooled prevalence estimates were 27.59% (95% CI 16.75%-38.43%) for depression and 19.87% (95% CI 14.12%-25.62%) for anxiety. The scores of HADS-D and HADS-A were 5.60 (95% CI 4.67-6.52) and 6.56 (95% CI 4.89-8.23) among PBC suffers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that depression and anxiety are prevalent in PBC patients. Physicians should be vigilant for psychiatric symptoms among PBC suffers and provide appropriate interventions for them. Exploration of underlying mechanisms and interactions in the future investigations is warranted.

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Metabolic syndrome among children and adolescents in low and middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome ◽

10.1186/s13098-020-00601-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zebenay Workneh Bitew ◽

Ayinalem Alemu ◽

Ermias Getaneh Ayele ◽

Zelalem Tenaw ◽

Anmut Alebel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

General Population ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Obese Population ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, which is rising in the low and middle income countries (LMICs). There are various studies with inconsistent findings that are inconclusive for policy makers and program planners. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at estimating the pooled prevalence of MetS and its components in LMICs. Methods Electronic searches were conducted in international databases including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE (Elsevier), Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Science direct (Elsevier), Food Science and Technology Abstracts (FSTA), Global Health and Medline, and other sources (World Cat, Google Scholar, and Google). The pooled estimates were computed in the random effect model. The pooled prevalence was computed using the three diagnostic methods (IDF, ATP III and de Ferranti). Publication bias was verified using funnel plot and Egger’s regression test. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed to identify the possible sources of heterogeneity among the included studies. Result In this study, 142,142 children and adolescents from 76 eligible articles were included to compute the pooled prevalence of MetS and its components in LMCIs. MeTs among overweight and obese population was computed from 20 articles with the pooled prevalence of 24.09%, 36.5%, and 56.32% in IDF, ATP III and de Ferranti criteria, respectively. Similarly, a total of 56 articles were eligible to compute the pooled prevalence of MetS in the general population of children and adolescents. Hence, Mets was found in 3.98% (IDF), 6.71% (ATP III) and 8.91% (de Ferranti) of study subjects. Regarding the components of MetS, abdominal obesity was the major component in overweight and obese population and low HDL-C was the most common component in the general population. This study also revealed that males were highly affected by MetS than females. Conclusion This study illustrates that MetS among children and adolescents is an emerging public health challenge in LMICs, where the prevalence of obesity is on the move. Preventive strategies such as community and school based intervention need to be designed. Promoting physical activities and healthy eating behaviors could avert this problem.

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The prevalence of depression symptoms among infertile women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fertility Research and Practice ◽

10.1186/s40738-021-00098-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zahra Kiani ◽

Masoumeh Simbar ◽

Sepideh Hajian ◽

Farid Zayeri

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Middle Income ◽

Infertile Women ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Prevalence Of Depression ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Infertile women’s mental health problems, including depression, are key fertility health issues that affect infertile women more severely than infertile men. Depression may threaten the health of individuals and reduce the quality of their lives. Considering the role and impact of depression on responses to infertility treatments, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the prevalence of depression symptoms among infertile women. Methods International databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Sciences, Scopus, Embase, and PsycINFO), national databases (SID and Magiran), and Google Scholar were searched by two independent reviewers for articles published from 2000 to April 5, 2020. The search procedure was performed in both Persian and English using keywords such as “depression,” “disorders,” “infertility,” “prevalence,” and “epidemiology.” The articles were evaluated in terms of their titles, abstracts, and full texts. The reviewers evaluated the quality of the articles using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, after which they analyzed the findings using STATA version 14. The I2 and Egger’s tests were performed to examine heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. Results Thirty-two articles were subjected to the meta-analysis, and a random effects model was used in the examination given the heterogeneity of the articles. The samples in the reviewed studies encompassed a total of 9679 infertile women. The lowest and highest pooled prevalence rates were 21.01% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.61–34.42), as determined using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and 52.21% (95% CI: 43.51–60.91), as ascertained using the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. The pooled prevalence values of depression among infertile women were 44.32% (95% CI: 35.65–52.99) in low- and middle-income countries and 28.03% (95% CI: 19.61–36.44) in high-income countries. Conclusion The prevalence of depression among infertile women was higher than that among the general population of a given country. Especially in low- and middle-income countries, appropriate measures, planning, and policy that target the negative effects of depression on infertile women’s lives should be established to reduce related problems.

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Effectiveness of interventions for improving timely diagnosis of breast and cervical cancers in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042788 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e042788

Author(s):

Chukwudi Arnest Nnaji ◽

Paul Kuodi ◽

Fiona M Walter ◽

Jennifer Moodley

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Middle Income ◽

Cervical Cancers ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Timely Diagnosis ◽

Evidence Summary ◽

Low And Middle Income

IntroductionBreast and cervical cancers pose a major public health burden globally, with disproportionately high incidence, morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The majority of women diagnosed with cancer in LMICs present with late-stage disease, the treatment of which is often costlier and less effective. While interventions to improve the timely diagnosis of these cancers are increasingly being implemented in LMICs, there is uncertainty about their role and effectiveness. The aim of this review is to systematically synthesise available evidence on the nature and effectiveness of interventions for improving timely diagnosis of breast and cervical cancers in LMICs.Methods and analysisA comprehensive search of published and relevant grey literature will be conducted. The following electronic databases will be searched: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). Evidence will be synthesised in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Two reviewers will independently screen the search outputs, select studies using predefined inclusion criteria and assess each included study for risk of bias. If sufficient data are available and studies are comparable in terms of interventions and outcomes, a meta-analysis will be conducted. Where studies are not comparable and a meta-analysis is not appropriate, a narrative synthesis of findings will be reported.Ethics and disseminationAs this will be a systematic review of publicly available data, with no primary data collection, it will not require ethical approval. Findings will be disseminated widely through a peer-reviewed publication and forums such as conferences, workshops and community engagement sessions. This review will provide a user-friendly evidence summary for informing further efforts at developing and implementing interventions for addressing delays in breast and cervical cancer diagnosis in LMICs.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020177232.

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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Burnout Among Healthcare Workers During COVID-19

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.758849 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Sulmaz Ghahramani ◽

Kamran Bagheri Lankarani ◽

Mohammad Yousefi ◽

Keyvan Heydari ◽

Saeed Shahabi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

English Language ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Personal Accomplishment ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries

Burnout among healthcare personnel has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's unique features. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide a complete assessment of the prevalence of burnout across various healthcare personnel. Until January 2021, systematic searches for English language papers were conducted using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest. Thirty observational studies were found after conducting systematic searches. The pooled overall prevalence of burnout was 52% [95% confidence interval (CI) 40–63%]. Pooled emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and lack of personal accomplishment (PA) were 51% (95% CI 42–61%), 52% (95% CI 39–65%), and 28% (95% CI 25–31%), respectively. This study demonstrated that nearly half of the healthcare workers experienced burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the studies that were included, non-frontline COVID-19 exposed healthcare personnel also experienced burnout. From high to lower middle-income countries, there was a gradient in the prevalence of total burnout, EE, and lack of PA. Further studies on burnout in low and lower-middle-income countries are suggested. A uniform diagnostic tool for the assessment of burnout is warranted.

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Financial toxicity of cancer care in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-161170/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrew Donkor ◽

Vivian Della Atuwo-Ampoh ◽

Frederick Yakanu ◽

Eric Torgbenu ◽

Edward Kwabena Ameyaw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cost Of Care ◽

Financial Toxicity ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Low And Middle Income

Abstract Introduction: The costs associated with cancer diagnosis, treatment and care present enormous financial toxicity. However, evidence of financial toxicity associated with cancer in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is scarce.Aim: To identify the extent of cancer-related financial toxicity and how it has been measured in LMICs.Methods: Four electronic databases were searched to identify studies of any design that reported financial toxicity among cancer patients in LMICs. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to derive the pooled prevalence of financial toxicity. Sub-group analyses were performed according to: costs; and determinants of financial toxicity.Results: A total of 31 studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of financial toxicity was 56.96% [95% CI, 30.51, 106.32]. In sub-group meta-analyses, the financial toxicity was higher among cancer patients with household size of more than four (1.17% [95% CI, 1.03, 1.32]; p = 0.02; I2 = 0%), multiple cycles of chemotherapy (1.94% [95% CI, 1.00, 3.75]; p = 0.05; I2 = 43%) and private health facilities (2.87% [95% CI, 1.89, 4.35]; p < 0.00001; I2 = 26%). Mean medical costs per cancer patients were $2,740.18 [95% CI, $1,953.62, $3,526.74]. The ratio of cost of care to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita varied considerably across the LMICs included in this review, which ranged from 0.06 in Vietnam to 327.65 in Ethiopia.Conclusions: This study indicates that cancer diagnosis, treatment and care impose high financial toxicity on cancer patients in LMICs. Further rigorous research on cancer-related financial toxicity is needed.

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Molecular epidemiology of human papillomavirus among HIV infected women in developing countries: systematic review and meta-analysis

Virology Journal ◽

10.1186/s12985-020-01448-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Agajie Likie Bogale ◽

Nega Berhe Belay ◽

Girmay Medhin ◽

Jemal Haidar Ali

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Developing Countries ◽

Human Papillomavirus ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Hpv Infection ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Hpv Genotypes

Abstract Background Although, there is a variable burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) in women infected with HIV in developing countries, there are few studies that attempted to surmise such variable evidences. This review aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of HPV genotype distribution and risk factors contributing to HPV infection among women infected with HIV in low- and middle-income countries. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies conducted in developing countries and reported HPV prevalence. We searched electronic databases: PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, Excerpta Medical Database from Elsevier, Web of science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and allied Health Sciences and Google scholar databases to retrieve primary studies published in English language till 11th August 2019. We used random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence of HPV genotypes, and funnel plot to assess publication bias. The registration number of this review study protocol is CRD42019123549. Results We included nineteen studies with a total of 8,175 participants in this review. The prevalence of HPV was extremely heterogeneous across the studies (χ2= 3782.80, p value < 0.001, I2 = 99.6%). The estimated pooled prevalence of all HPV genotypes was 63.0% (95% CI: 48.0–78.0) while the pooled prevalence of high risk and low risk HPV genotypes were 51.0% (95% CI: 38.0–63.0) and 28.0% (95% CI: 12.0–43.0), respectively. The pooled prevalence of HPV genotype 16 was 20%, while genotype 18 and 52 were 15% and 13%, respectively. Different risk factors reported for HPV infection and the frequently reported were low CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 and high HIV viral load. Conclusion The pooled prevalence of HPV among HIV infected women in low- and middle-income countries was considerable and the proportion of high risk HPV genotypes were high when compared with low risk genotypes. Therefore, it is essential for the HPV prevention program to prevent the double burden of HPV and HIV in women.

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