Diabetes Amplifies the Dangers of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Retrospective Analysis

Background and/or Objectives: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is associated with significant morbidity, and coexisting diabetes mellitus (DM) may further increase the risk of adverse outcomes. This study compares the incidence of severe complications in GBS patients with and without DM.

Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using TriNetX data, including GBS patients with DM (n = 10,574) and a propensity score-matched control group without DM (n = 10,574). Outcomes of interest—respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism (PE), and sepsis—were analyzed within a one-month follow-up period. Odds ratios (OR), risk differences, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and log-rank tests were used for statistical evaluation.

Setting : This retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic medical center.

Participants : Participants included GBS patients with DM and a propensity score-matched control group of GBS patients without DM .

Interventions: not applicable

Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures of this retrospective cohort study were the incidences of respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, PE, and sepsis within a one-month follow up period.

Results: The GBS+DM cohort had significantly higher rates of respiratory failure (13.02% vs. 9.36%, OR = 1.449, p < 0.0001), cardiac arrest (1.47% vs. 0.82%, OR = 1.793, p < 0.0001), sepsis (7.85% vs. 3.93%, OR = 2.085, p < 0.0001), and PE (2.31% vs. 1.57%, OR = 1.481, p = 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated lower survival probabilities in the GBS+DM cohort, with log-rank tests confirming significant
differences (p < 0.0001 for most outcomes).

Conclusions: GBS patients with DM experience significantly higher rates of adverse outcomes compared to those without DM. These findings emphasize the need for heightened clinical vigilance and early intervention in this high-risk population.