Background: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare disease that consists of a group of neuropathic conditions. Very few epidemiological studies of GBS have been carried out in Spain. The aim of this study was to determine the trends in GBS mortality in the total population of Spain for the period 1999 to 2013.
Methods: Data on GBS deaths were drawn from the National Statistics Institute of Spain. Crude and overall age-standardised GBS mortality rates were calculated and joinpoint regression models were used to describe trend changes. Mean age of deceased by GBS each year was also assessed.
Results: The overall age-standardised GBS mortality rate was 0.71 per million in 1999 and 0.40 in 2013. It was higher in men, 1.08 vs. 0.42 in 1999 and 0.48 vs. 0.35 in 2013. There was a statistically significant decrease in mortality during the study period. All the age-standardised mortality rates decreased (overall and by gender) from 1999 to 2013. The mean age at death increased with time, from 73 years in 1999 to 77 years in 2013.
Conclusions: GBS mortality has improved in Spain during the last 15 years. The age of death has risen and the mortality rate has decreased.
Keywords: Guillain–Barré syndrome; international classification of diseases; mortality rate; registries; surveillance; trend.