Introduction Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system, with an annual worldwide incidence of 1-2 cases per 100,000 people. The incidence of GBS in Australia has not been studied in the past 38 years, and existing Australian literature presents a different severity profile compared to that observed in the Barwon South West Region (BSWR). The aim of this study was to describe and compare the prevalence of GBS in two proximate regional areas of Australia. Methods A retrospective file audit was conducted for patients residing in the BSWR or Grampians Region (GR, a region adjacent to BSWR), admitted with GBS between 2009 and 2019. Results We identified 120 GBS patients during the study period: 91 from the BSWR and 29 from the GR. The age-adjusted incidence of GBS in the BSWR was 3.0 cases per 100,000 people per year (95% CI: 2.4–3.7), compared to 0.9 cases per 100,000 in the GR (95% CI: 0.6–1.3, p=0). The risk of GBS was significantly higher for those living in the BSWR compared to the GR (IRR 3.26, 95% CI: 2.14–4.95, p<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, preceding illness, season of onset, disability severity, need for mechanical ventilation, medical treatments, or rehabilitation outcomes. Discussion This study provides updated data on the incidence and severity of GBS in two regional areas in the state of Victoria (Australia), revealing substantial regional variation within geographically proximate areas. These findings are crucial for resource planning and staff training. Further research is needed to explore the underlying causes of these regional differences.
Cutts et al. (Thu,) studied this question.