The prevalence of Myocardial Infarction among Multiple Sclerosis Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) are suggested to have a higher death rate compared to the overall population. Increased risk and incidence of cardiovascular diseases is a possible contributing factor here, as these patients are suggested to be more prone to early death due to myocardial infarction (MI). Aim: This systematic review aims to describe the prevalence of MI among PwMS in comparison to the non-MS population. Method: We thoroughly searched for publications reporting the prevalence of MI among PwMS in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. We excluded studies focusing on the following conditions: ischemic heart disease only, autopsy of PwMS, MS patients with a previous history of cardiovascular diseases, and MS diagnosed after MI. Moreover, we excluded reviews, editorials, and commentaries. We used the random effect model to calculate the pooled prevalence. Results: We included nineteen studies, comprising 44 to 66616 participants. The overall prevalence of MI was 1.7 among PwMS. The pooled odds ratio estimate for MI was 1.41 in PwMS compared to the MS-free population. Conclusions: Results of this systematic review confirms the increased risk of MI among PwMS. Consequently, cardiovascular diseases should be considered in the management of these patients.