Prevalence of Multimorbidity in the Middle East: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Background: There has not been a review that evaluated the prevalence of multimorbidity in the Middle East. This review aims to measure the prevalence, demographic factors, and consequences of multimorbidity in the Middle East region. Study Design: A quantitative systematic review includes cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort studies. Methods: The prevalence systematic review approach from the Joanna Briggs Institute was applied. We searched PsychINFO, MEDLINE, EMCARE, CINAHL, Scopus, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Data were extracted methodically in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards. Studies written in English and released between 2012 and March 2022 were included. For the meta-analysis, a random-effects model was applied. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022335534. Results: The final sample consisted of eight cohort and observational studies. The number of participants varied from 354 to 796,427. Multimorbidity was present in all populations with a prevalence of 21.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 21.7–21.8%). Conclusion: Multimorbidity affects a significant section of the world’s population. A uniform operationalization of multimorbidity is required in the Middle East in order to enable reliable estimates of illness burden, effective disease management, and resource distribution.