Temporal Variation and Regional Differences in Deaths Related to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the United States: A Retrospective Analysis of Two Decades
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective We aim to identify Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)-related mortality trends in the US stratified by age, sex, race, and region, and study its temporal variation. Background GBS is an autoimmune neurological disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system, with an estimated 6.4% increase in cases worldwide from 1990 to 2019. Design/Methods We queried the CDC-WONDER database for death certificate data, which we used to calculate crude death rates (CR) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1,000,000 people. We examined the change in AAMR through annual percent change (APC) and the average annual percent change (AAPC) using Joinpoint regression. Results From 1999 to 2020, a total of 10,097 GBS-related deaths occurred in adults in the USA. The AAMR decreased from 1999 to 2014 (APC: -1.91) and increased thereafter till 2020 (APC: 3.77). Despite these fluctuations, the AAMR was 1.5 in both 1999 and 2020. AAMR was higher in males (1.7) than females (1.1), decreasing till 2015 for females and 2014 for males but increasing thereafter only for females. Non-Hispanic (NH) American Indians or Alaska Natives displayed the highest AAMR (1.8), while NH Asians or Pacific Islanders displayed the lowest (0.6). AAMRs also varied by region (West: 1.5; South: 1.5; Midwest: 1.4; Northeast: 1.1). States with the highest AAMRs were Wyoming, Mississippi, Montana, and Nebraska. Rural regions exhibited a higher AAMR (1.7) than Urban regions (1.3). Most deaths occurred at a medical facility (60.99%). The adults aged ≥85 years exhibited an alarmingly high CR (14.0). Conclusions While the mortality rates for GBS initially declined till 2014, they climbed back up afterward. The highest mortality was exhibited by males and NH American Indians or Alaska Natives, residents of rural regions, and adults ≥85 years. Research should focus on the reasons behind the recent rise in GBS-related mortality. Equitable efforts are needed to reduce the burden on high-risk populations.
Source: Neurology
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4403206482