Epidemiology of Guillain‐Barré syndrome in Finland 2004–2014

At total mean incidence of 0.84–1.1/100,000 the occurrence of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) is reported to be low in Finland compared to other Caucasian populations. However, a recent study from Southwestern Finland reported an incidence of 1.82/100,000 which is comparable to other Caucasian populations. We analyzed discharge data covering the years 2004 through 2014 on all neurological admissions in all Finnish university and central hospitals with a primary diagnosis of GBS. A total of 989 admissions due to GBS (917 individuals) were identified. The standardized (European population) annual incidence rate was 1.70/100,000 person‐years (95% confidence interval 1.60–1.81). GBS incidence had an increasing trend with age. The likelihood of GBS was higher among girls and adolescent women than boys and men of same age (male:female incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.56), while in the older age groups (>19 years) the occurrence of GBS was higher among males than females (male:female IRR 1.59). The incidence of GBS remained stable during the study period. There was no seasonal variation in GBS admission frequencies (p = 0.28). No significant effect of the 2009–2010 H1N1 influenza or vaccination against it for GBS occurrence was observed. We suggest that GBS is as common, and has similar age‐distribution in Finland as in other European countries. Sex‐associated susceptibility for GBS appears to be different in children‐adolescents and adults.