Estimation of the worldwide seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence studies
PubMed 30706584 · doi:10.1002/rmv.2034
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature was conducted to estimate the worldwide seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibodies across three target populations: the general population, women of childbearing age, and blood or organ donors.
What was found
Global CMV seroprevalence was estimated at: - 83% (95% UI: 78–88%) in the general population - 86% (95% UI: 83–89%) in women of childbearing age - 86% (95% UI: 82–89%) in blood or organ donors Across all three groups, seroprevalence was highest in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region (90%, 95% UI: 85–94%) and lowest in the WHO European region (66%, 95% UI: 56–74%).
Why it matters
These global and regional estimates establish baseline epidemiology for CMV infection, informing disease burden models and supporting vaccine development efforts.
Limits
The abstract does not report the total number of included studies, total participant sample size, or search timeframes. Heterogeneity among primary studies, differences in serological assays, and potential regional publication gaps cannot be evaluated from the abstract alone.
Cited by
- supports Approximately 50% of the human population is infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV).