The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD): A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To estimate pooled prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) cases. Methods Electronic database of PubMed (MEDLINE), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase and Web of Science ware systematically searched to identify relevant studies published not later than June 10, 2022. Specifically, original articles that reported the prevalence of depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances were selected. All pooled prevalence and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Publication bias was examined using funnel plots, and sensitivity analysis was used to explore the stability of the pooled results. Results A total of 31 studies involving 4213 participants were included in this review. The pooled prevalence of depression was 40 % (95 % CI: 32–49 %), the pooled prevalence of anxiety was 45 % (95 % CI: 24–66 %), and the pooled prevalence of sleeping disturbances was 55 % (95 % CI: 46–64 %). The depression and anxiety prevalence estimates varied based on different screening tools. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances among NMOSD. These findings underscore the importance of regular monitoring of psychological status in NMOSD as well as the need for preventive approaches, early diagnosis, and intervention to improve medical and psychosocial outcomes.