ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The burden of neurological disorders increases with population growth and aging and nearly three-quarters of the global burden of neurological disorders has been reported in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, this study aimed to report the epidemiological features and the burden of neurological disorders in North Africa and the Middle East (NAME) countries. METHODS: The study population included 21 countries in the NAME region with a population of more than 600 million. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database was used. In GBD 2019, neurological disorders are classified into 7 diseases and injuries. Incidence rates, prevalence rates, death rates, disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rates by age-standardized rate (ASR) per 100000 people were measured. Also, the attributed burden to high body mass index (BMI), high fasting plasma glucose, smoking, and alcohol use were reported. RESULTS: The highest incidence rates of neurological disorders in 2019 were in Iran 11293.27 (95% UI, 10132.62-12499.59) and Egypt 10257.33 (95% UI, 9189.37-11341.16), respectively, and the highest mortality 41.12 (95% UI, 17.68-92.44) and DALYs 1503.0 (95% UI, 853.8-2492.15) rates were in Afghanistan. In NAME region, the incidence and prevalence rate of neurological disorders increased by 0.84% (10006.37 to 10090.79) and 1.36% (33711.72 to 34170.57) respectively, while the mortality and DALYs rate decreased by 2.75% (34.11 to 33.17) and 3.92% (1438.48 to 1382.14) between 1990 and 2019. The highest decrement of the neurological disorders-related DALYs with a 10.10% decrement pertained to Afghanistan (1671.86 to 1503). The highest increment of the neurological disorders-related DALYs with a 1.89% increment pertained to Morocco (1330.69 to 1355.83). The highest attributed DALYs to alcohol use pertained to Turkey 9.8 (95% UI, 4.23-18.05). The highest attributed DALYs to high BMI 112.23 (95% UI, 29.3-285.75) and high fasting plasma glucose 100.36 (95% UI, 18.79-302.85) pertained to Qatar. The highest attributed DALYs to smoking pertained to Lebanon 106.34 (95% UI, 37.65-253.87). Most DALYs were associated with those aged 75 years and more. CONCLUSION: Despite progressive reduction in death due to neurological disorders in the NAME region in recent decades, there was a considerable and increasing number of people affected by different neurological disorders. As populations age, societies will face more challenges regarding prevention, detection, treatment, and rehabilitation.
