Risk of fracture in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome

S. Pouwels, A. de Boer, H.G.M. Leufkens, W.E.J. Weber, C. Cooper, T.P. van Staa, F. de Vries*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate fracture risk in patients with Guillain-Barr, syndrome (GBS). No association with risk of fracture was observed for GBS patients compared with controls. Only GBS patients using pain treatment had a doubled risk of fracture. Symptoms of Guillain-Barr, syndrome (GBS) may vary from mild difficulty in walking to complete paralysis, which may increase the risk of fractures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate fracture risk in patients with GBS. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (1987-2012). Each patient with GBS was matched by year of birth, sex, and practice, up to six patients without a history of GBS. Outcome measure was any fracture. There were no associations between GBS and any fracture, adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.01 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.77-1.33), or osteoporotic fracture, AHR 0.76 (95 % CI 0.50-1.17), compared with controls. Stratification to gender, age, and duration since diagnosis did not show an association either. Only for GBS patients using pain treatment, risk of fracture was doubled AHR 1.97 (95 % confidence CI 1.21-3.21) compared with controls. The risk of fracture in GBS patients exposed to pain treatment was equivalent to risk of fracture among controls exposed to pain treatment. No association with risk of fracture was observed for GBS patients compared with controls. Only GBS patients using pain treatment had a doubled risk of fracture, but their risk was equivalent to fracture risk among controls exposed to pain treatment.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1845-1851
JournalOsteoporosis International
Volume25
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2014

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