OBJECTIVES : To review the burden of illness in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), based on published literature on the epidemiology, humanistic burden, current treatment and economic burden.

METHODS : A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase and key conferences was performed. Search terms identified studies on the epidemiology, humanistic burden, current treatment and economic burden of CIDP published since 2009 in English.

RESULTS : A total of 50 full texts and 26 conference proceedings were included in the epidemiology (n=9), humanistic burden (n=8), current treatment (n=51) and economic burden (n=8) categories. Epidemiological studies showed incidence and prevalence ranges of 0.2–1.6 and 0.8–8.9 per 100,000, respectively, depending on geography and diagnostic criteria. The prevalence of CIDP was higher in males and with increased age. Humanistic burden studies revealed that patients experienced physical and psychosocial burden, including impaired physical function, pain and depression. Publications on current treatments reported on four main types of therapy: immunoglobulins (Ig), corticosteroids, plasma exchange and immunosuppressants. The majority of identified clinical studies examined the clinical efficacy and safety of Ig or corticosteroids. Efficacy was assessed using functional, disability and quality of life outcomes. Economic data from Germany, UK, France and the US indicated a high economic burden and cost to society.

CONCLUSIONS : CIDP is a rare disease associated with physical and psychosocial burden, and high costs to healthcare systems. A range of treatments were identified, with Ig and corticosteroids most commonly assessed in clinical studies. Studies identified in this review varied in methodological approach and were based on relatively small patient populations, which limits the robustness of the current evidence base. Further research is required to fully characterise the burden of illness.