Determinants of COVID-19-related lethality in multiple sclerosis: a meta-regression of observational studies.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To identify risk factors for an increased lethality of COVID-19 in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

We searched scientific databases to identify cohort studies with the number of deaths in patients with MS. We fitted inverse-variance weighted meta-regressions with random-effects models to identify potential moderators (determinants) of COVID-19-related lethality (outcome).

Results

After an independent screening, 18 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria; all data were collected before anti-SARS-COV-2 vaccination was available. Out of 5,634 patients, 111 died, yielding a pooled death rate of 1.97% (95% confidence intervals 1.61-2.33). There was a substantial heterogeneity between the included studies (Q₁₇ = 66.9, p < 0.001; I

SUBMITTER: Prosperini L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8726522 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature