Location, sex, and age disparities in trend of epidemiology of anxiety disorder in the Middle East and North Africa: Potential effects of COVID-19 on estimates

This study aims to provide an epidemiological estimate of the burden of anxiety disorders based on gender and age disparity in 21 Middle East and North African (MENA) countries and also present potential effects of COVID-19 on estimates. The tools utilized for this research included Global Burden of Disease compare and result from the Global Burden of Disease Study. All-age count estimates and an age-standardized rate (per 100,000) were calculated for prevalence, incidence, and disability-adjusted life years. Each of the disease burden indicators was examined from 1990 to 2021, stratified by sex, age, and location, and the percentage change between 1990 and 2021 was reported. The 95% uncertainty interval was reported for each of the reported estimates. Increase in anxiety disorders during 2020 and 2021, used to estimate likely connected to the impacts of COVID-19. The global prevalence of anxiety disorders has increased from 3746 per 100,000 people to 4421 per 100,000 people. The same estimate in the MENA was equal to 4945 per 100,000 in 1990 and 5950 per 100,000 in 2021. In 2021, there were 359 million cases of anxiety disorders globally, of which 38 million were in the MENA. There was an increase in disability-adjusted life years because of anxiety disorder during 2020 and 2021, coinciding with the pandemic period. The trend of burden of anxiety disorders in the global and MENA countries has shown an increasing trend during the recent decades that has continued since 1990. However, the rate of anxiety disorders in the MENA was higher than globally. The COVID-19 pandemic may have significantly contributed to a rise in anxiety disorders, potentially placing a long-term strain on the mental health system for years to come.