Neurological disorders in Libya: an overview

The aim of this study was to review all publications related to the incidence and prevalence of neurological disorders in Libya, and to estimate the burden of these disorders in the country. The PubMed and the Libyan Medical Index were searched using different combinations of keywords. The references in all relevant papers were reviewed for any additional publications. An estimation of the number of patients with neurological disorders was made based on the reviewed data and adjusted using the Libyan Nationwide Official Census of 2006. Sixteen papers were identified. Incidence rate is available for twelve disorders and the prevalence rate for nine. Data for some of the most common neurological problems such as headaches, or for important disorders such as dementia, are lacking. Therefore, the estimate of 6,892 new neurological cases per year and a total of 11,908 neurological patients in 2006 in Libya is largely underestimating the burden of the neurological disorders in this country and should be regarded as the lowest possible estimation. Further neuroepidemiological studies in Libya are needed.