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. 2014 Dec;6(6):372-81.

Varicella immunity in Iran: an age-stratified systematic review and meta-analysis

Abbas Allami  1 , Navid Mohammadi  2
Affiliations

Varicella immunity in Iran: an age-stratified systematic review and meta-analysis

Abbas Allami et al. Iran J Microbiol. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To generate synthesized information on the epidemiology of VZV infection, as well as an estimation of prevalence of age-specific antibody in Iranian less than 40.

Material and methods: After exclusion of irrelevant and overlapping reports, 15 papers were included (from nine major cities). Studies were pooled according to the heterogeneity test results. Random effect model methods were used for meta-analysis where significant heterogeneity was observed (age 1-16years).For other age groups, fixed model were used.

Results: Significant heterogeneity was observed in prevalence rates of all childhood age-groups. The seropositivity prevalence increased steeply from the age of 1-5 to 6-10 [from 21.9% (95% CI; 10.8-33.1) to 42.1 %(95% CI; 33.6-50.6)]. At the age of 11 15, 59.4% (95% CI; 46.1-72.8) of children showed to be infected. The rate of seropositivity was more than 87% in individuals of 40 and older.

Conclusion: The varicella seroeprevalence in Iran is in accordance with average tropical and temperate areas. Comparison of conducted studies during 2003 to 2011 didn't show any alteration in VZV seroprovalence in Iran.

Keywords: Iran; Varicella; meta-analysis; seroepidemiologic study.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Map of Iran and Coordinates
S, South; W, West; http://www.daftlogic.com, http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/iran.html
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Selection of studies for inclusion in review: varicella seroprevalence in I.R. Iran.
a. Duplicated papers due to searching multiple databases. b. Special groups: hospitalized patients, patients on haemodialysis, and hospital staff
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest Plot of varicella immunity (prevalence estimation) by age group
Fig.4
Fig.4
Age-specific prevalence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibody in Iranian population (2002-2012)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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