Health-related quality of life in Guillain-Barré syndrome patients: a literature review

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is the leading cause of flaccid paralysis and significantly affects functionality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). While disability and muscle strength scales remain standard for assessing recovery, HRQoL offers a broader perspective by integrating physical, emotional, and social aspects often overlooked in clinical practice. The objective of this review is to synthesize current evidence on the tools used to assess HRQoL in patients with GBS and to analyze demographic, clinical, and paraclinical factors associated with outcomes. Longitudinal studies indicate that HRQoL is most impaired during hospitalization and early recovery, with gradual improvement over time. Worse HRQoL is associated with advanced age, prolonged mechanical ventilation, dysautonomia, sensory deficits, high disability scores, axonal variants, urinary dysfunction, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Overall, the evidence highlights the need for a disease-specific HRQoL instrument and longitudinal studies to enable accurate evaluation and guide targeted interventions that improve long-term outcomes in GBS patients.