JAMA Neurology — The Global Burden of Polyneuropathy—In Need of an Accurate Assessment

Up to 7% of adults have polyneuropathy symptoms, which can result from metabolic and nutritional disorders, toxins, and autoimmune, infectious, and hereditary causes, among others. Despite this, the global burden of polyneuropathy remains largely unknown. In addition to enumerating mortality, the original Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study was designed to quantify disability resulting from nonfatal medical conditions so that they could be objectively prioritized by public health and policymakers. Subsequent rounds of the GBD study have expanded to include neurologic “…conditions for which neurologists play a particular important role in care and diagnosis.”^1(p173) In the US, disorders of the peripheral nervous system, of which polyneuropathy is the most common, account for more than 10% of neurology visits per year.² Yet, the GBD study does not include polyneuropathy. The fact that the GBD study overlooks the burden of polyneuropathy has important consequences for patients, public health, and research...