Nafari A, Shojaei S, Khoshnood RJ, Ghajarzadeh M, Tafreshinejad A, Safari S, Mirmosayyeb O. Myasthenia Gravis and COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Basic Clin Neurosci 2024;
15:175-184. [PMID:
39228450 PMCID:
PMC11367215 DOI:
10.32598/bcn.2023.4360.5]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), an autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction, exhibits varying rates of COVID-19 infection across different studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to estimate the pooled prevalence of COVID-19 infection in individuals with MG.
Methods
We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and gray literature, including references to the research published before October 2021. The total number of participants, the first author, the publication year, the country of origin, the number of MG patients, their symptoms, hospitalization rates, and deaths were all extracted as study data.
Results
Our literature search yielded 253 articles, of which 75 remained after removing duplicates. Finally, 18 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 infection in MG cases was found to be 2% (95% CI, 1%, 3%; I2=85%, P<0.001). Additionally, the pooled prevalence of hospitalization among those with COVID-19 infection was 43% (95% CI, 26%, 60%; I2=97.6%; P<0.001), and the pooled prevalence of MG exacerbation was 33% (95% CI, 20%, 46%; I2=92.6%; P<0.001).
Conclusion
In summary, this systematic review and meta-analysis reveal that the pooled prevalence of COVID-19 infection in individuals with MG is 2%.
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