Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42310895›Full record

Observational studyImmunity, inflammation and disease2026

Dynamic Changes and Future Trend Forecasts in the Global Burden of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Analysis of 204 Countries and Regions From 1990 to 2021, Including the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Qingyu Song, Mengmeng Wang, Zheng Shen, Zhaoyi Jing, Yibin Fan, Xiaojin Zhang, Li Huang, Wen Li, Yin Shi, Dianhui Yang

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Immunity, inflammation and disease, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Qingyu SongThe Seventh Clinical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7166-3102
Mengmeng WangCollege of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
Zheng ShenCollege of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
Zhaoyi JingThe First Clinical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8570-0628
Yibin FanAcupuncture Department, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
Xiaojin ZhangAcupuncture Department, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
Li HuangAcupuncture Department, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
Wen LiAcupuncture Department, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
Yin ShiAcupuncture Department, Seventh People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2856-7669
Dianhui YangCollege of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.

Funding

Jinan Clinical Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture 202226001Plateau Discipline Construction Clinical Medicine New Quality Specialty 024-PWXZ-23The first batch of clinical medical center projects of Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital 25-LCYJS-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated neuropathy that may be influenced by infectious, demographic, and healthcare-related factors. Although increasing attention has been paid to neurological complications during the COVID-19 pandemic, the global burden, inequalities, and future trends of GBS remain insufficiently characterized.

methodsThis population-based observational epidemiological study used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to assess the burden of GBS across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. The main outcomes included prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardized YLD rate (ASYR), and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC). Analyses were stratified by sex, age group, country, region, and socio-demographic index (SDI). Inequality analysis, decomposition analysis, Joinpoint regression, and Bayesian age-period-cohort modeling were further used to assess socioeconomic disparities, driving factors, temporal changes, and future trends.

resultsFrom 1990 to 2021, the global burden of GBS increased substantially. In 2021, the global number of prevalent cases reached 471,850, and the ASPR was 5.91 per 100,000 population. The corresponding number of YLDs was 139,639, with an ASYR of 1.75 per 100,000 population. The burden was lowest among children younger than 5 years and increased progressively with age. Males generally had a higher burden than females, particularly among older adults. Low-SDI regions experienced disproportionately higher ASPR and ASYR, indicating substantial global inequalities. The increases observed after 2019 temporally coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic; however, this association should be interpreted cautiously. Decomposition analysis suggested that epidemiological changes, population growth, and population aging collectively contributed to the increasing burden of GBS.

conclusionThe global burden of GBS increased markedly from 1990 to 2021, with substantial regional, sex-, age-, and SDI-related heterogeneity. The post-2019 increase temporally coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, but causal inference should be avoided due to the observational nature of this study. Strengthening neurological surveillance, improving early diagnosis and treatment capacity, and reducing healthcare disparities in low-SDI regions may help mitigate the future burden of GBS.

Indexed as

COVID-19Global Burden of DiseaseGuillain-Barre SyndromeAdolescentAdultAgedChildChild, PreschoolFemaleForecastingGlobal HealthHumansInfantMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsCOVID‐19decomposition analysisglobal burden of diseaseGuillain–Barré syndromeinequality analysis

Identifiers

PMID42310895
PMCPMC13276001

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.