Estimation of Background Incidence Rates of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Germany - A Retrospective Cohort Study with Electronic Healthcare Data
- 16 December 2014
- journal article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Neuroepidemiology
- Vol. 43 (3-4), 244-252
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000369344
Abstract
Background: The Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurs after infections and as an adverse reaction to vaccines. No detailed information on incidence rates (IRs) in Germany is available. Methods: This retrospective cohort study estimated age- and sex-specific IRs of GBS in Germany in the years 2007-2009 based on electronic healthcare data from the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD). Two case definitions were applied. GBS cases had a main discharge diagnosis of GBS. GBS_PROCEDURE cases in addition had codes for relevant diagnostic procedures. Crude and standardized IRs (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals were stratified by year, age group, sex, region and season. IR ratios (IRRs) for each stratification factor were calculated by multivariable Poisson regression. Results: Among 13,297,678 persons, 889 (693) incident GBS (GBS_PROCEDURE) cases were identified. Overall SIRs per 100,000 person years were 2.4 (2.2-2.5) for GBS and 1.8 (1.7-2.0) for GBS_PROCEDURE. (S)IRs increased with age, peaking in the age group 70-79 years (IR GBS: 5.5 (4.7-6.5)) and were higher in males than in females (e.g., IR GBS: IRR = 1.5 (1.3-1.7)) and in February-April, as compared to the rest of the year. No regional pattern was observed. Conclusion: (S)IRs of GBS in Germany differed by age, sex and season and were comparable to those found in other studies. Results might be used as a comparator in vaccine safety monitoring.Keywords
This publication has 37 references indexed in Scilit:
- Population Incidence of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisNeuroepidemiology, 2011
- Incidence of anogenital warts in Germany: a population-based cohort studyBMC Infectious Diseases, 2010
- Linkage of mother–baby pairs in the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research DatabasePharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 2010
- Increased Risk of Guillain‐Barré Syndrome following Recent Herpes Zoster: A Population‐Based Study across TaiwanClinical Infectious Diseases, 2010
- Importance of background rates of disease in assessment of vaccine safety during mass immunisation with pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccinesThe Lancet, 2010
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome after Vaccination in United States: Data From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Food and Drug Administration Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (1990-2005)Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease, 2009
- Economic cost of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the United StatesNeurology, 2008
- Guillain–Barre syndrome after vaccination in United States: A report from the CDC/FDA Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting SystemVaccine, 2007
- Campylobacter jejuni and Guillain‐Barré syndromeAnnals of Neurology, 1994
- AnnouncementsAnnals of Neurology, 1978