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Frequency of Tremor in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher

Summary: How common is tremor in multiple sclerosis? A meta-analysis found it affects many patients, though estimates varied sharply between studies and sample sizes. #MultipleSclerosis #Tremor

Vaheb S ; Dehghani Firouzabadi D ; Ghoshouni H ; Yazdan Panah M ; Shaygannejad V ; Mirmosayyeb O
Authors

Source: Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders Published:2025


Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder causing various symptoms, including tremors, which significantly affect the quality of life and disability in people with MS (PwMS). Previous studies report a wide range of tremor frequency in PwMS, necessitating a comprehensive review for reliable estimates. Objectives: This review aimed to elucidate the frequency rate of tremor among PwMS. Method: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science up to April 27, 2024, to identify studies evaluating various types of tremors in PwMS. The Meta-proportion method implemented in R software version 4.0.0, utilizing a random-effects model, was employed to estimate the pooled frequency rates of tremor, with its 95% confidence interval (CI), among PwMS. Results: From 3780 studies, 14 studies encompassing 17,458 PwMS (71.5 % female) were included. The mean age was 46.4 years, with a disease duration of 9.3 years and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3.4. The pooled frequency of tremor was 33.32 % (95 % CI: 23.47 % to 44.88 %; I2 = 98 %; p-heterogeneity < 0.01). Subgroup analysis by sample size revealed that the pooled frequency of tremor in PwMS was significantly lower (p-value < 0.01) in studies with over 200 participants (22.46, 95 % CI: 15.69 % to 31.08 %, I2 = 99 %; p-heterogeneity < 0.01) compared to those with fewer than 200 participants (47.65, 95 % CI: 31.97 % to 63.81 %, I2 = 91 %; p-heterogeneity < 0.01) Conclusion: Tremor is a prevalent complaint in PwMS. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted supportive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative interventions to effectively address this prevalent issue in PwMS. © 2025 The Author(s)