We analyzed studies on neurocysticercosis (NCC) and epilepsy across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to determine the prevalence of NCC in people with epilepsy (PWE) and the strength of association of NCC with epilepsy in the region. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the existing literature on NCC and epilepsy in SSA. Diagnostic methods for NCC in the studies selected for our analysis included one or more of the following: positive brain CT, serum ELISA and serum EITB. A common prevalence and overall odds-ratio were then estimated using metaanalysis. Results: A total of 25 (overall) and 20 (case-control) studies met the inclusion criteria for the prevalence and strength of association estimation, respectively. The overall prevalence estimate of NCC in PWE was 22 % [95 % confidence interval [CI]: 17-27.0 %). The figures were higher in the Southern and Eastern Africa sub-region (45 % and 25 % respectively) but lower in the Central and Western Africa sub-region (6 % and 15 % respectively). The prevalence of NCC estimate in PWE varied with method of diagnosis; with 29 % 18 % and 15 % in studies that used a minimum of Brain CT, ELISA and EITB respectively. The overall odds ratio was 2.4 (95 % CI 2.1-2.8), p < 0.0001. Conclusion:The overall prevalence of NCC in PWE in SSA was 22 %. The prevalence figure varied with the subregion of SSA. The odd of NCC in PWE in SSA was 2.4. In spite of the sub-regional variation in NCC prevalence, this meta-analysis suggests that neurocysticercosis contributes significantly to epilepsy in SSA.

The aim of this study was to determine, using meta-analysis, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and to explore the influence of method of diagnosis, DM types, and study year on the prevalence of DM with the view to evaluating the trend and the burden of DM in KSA. Prevalence estimates were derived using a random effect model on carefully selected population-based studies in KSA. The derived estimates were applied to the total populations in the country to give an estimated burden of DM. Twenty-one studies, with 376,998 participants out of whom 54,837 had DM, were selected. The prevalence of DM was 20.9%, 0.9%, and 12.6% for T2DM, T1DM, and combined T1/T2DM, respectively. Subgroup analysis using the method of DM diagnosis showed that the prevalence of DM was 14.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.3% to 19.0%) in the fasting plasma glucose group, 6.8% (95% CI: 2.6% to 11%) in oral glucose tolerance group, and 12.5% (6.2%–18.9%) in glycated hemoglobin group. Meta-regression revealed 4.6 × 10−3 increase in prevalence per year. The prevalence of DM in Saudi Arabia is high. There is a rising trend in the prevalence of DM in KSA and it is accompanied by a proportionate increase in the burden of DM.