Summary
During the years 1966–1976, 875 patients were treated for bacterial meningitis at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen. By about January 1, 1980, all 782 surviving patients had been traced. 87 had died in the observation period of four to 15 years. Mortality in the years following meningitis was studied by means of a comparison with the expected mortality in a matched normal population, using a computer program for the determination of late excess mortality. Late excess mortality was significantly increased during the first two years following discharge after meningitis and was of the same magnitude in the major etiological groups. The cumulative five-year late excess mortality rate was higher in the group of patients between 30 and 60 years, in those transferred from other hospitals, in those in coma or somnolence on admission and in those developing convulsions during hospitalization. In the group of patients aged 30 to 60 years, 11 patients died during the first two years after discharge. In nine of these cases, the main cause or the concomitant causes of death were conditions predisposing to infections or bacterial meningitis. The frequency of the causes of death in the 87 patients who died was not significantly different from that among the general Danish population.
Zusammenfassung
In den Jahren 1966–1976 wurden an der Klinik für Infektionskrankheiten der Universität Kopenhagen 875 Patienten wegen bakterieller Meningitis behandelt. Etwa bis zum 1. Januar 1980 waren alle 782 überlebenden Patienten nachgeprüft worden. 87 waren in der Beobachtungszeit von vier bis 15 Jahren verstorben. Mittels eines Computerprogramms für die Bestimmung der späten Übersterblichkeit wurde die Mortalität in den Jahren nach Meningitis untersucht und ein Vergleich mit der Mortalität in einer entsprechenden normalen Kontrollgruppe angestellt. In den ersten beiden Jahren nach Entlassung nach durchgemachter Meningitis bestand eine signifikante Übersterblichkeit, die in den ätiologischen Hauptgruppen gleichgroß war. Die kumulative Fünfjahres-Übersterblichkeit war erhöht in der Gruppe der Patienten zwischen 30 und 60 Jahren, bei Patienten, die von anderen Krankenhäusern verlegt worden waren, bei Patienten, die im Koma oder somnolent eingeliefert worden waren, und bei Patienten, die während der stationären Behandlung Krampfanfälle bekamen. In der Gruppe der 30- bis 60jährigen starben 11 Patienten während der ersten zwei Jahre nach Entlassung. In neun von diesen Fällen waren die Haupttodesursache oder Begleittodesursachen Krankheiten, die für Infektionen oder eine bakterielle Meningitis prädisponierten. Die Häufigkeit der Todesursachen war bei den 87 verstorbenen Patienten nicht signifikant verschieden von der der dänischen Allgemeinbevölkerung.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Jensen, K., Ranek, L., Rosendahl, N. Bacterial meningitis. Nord. Med. 77 (1967) 693–699.
Finland, M., Barnes, M. W. Acute bacterial meningitis at Boston City Hospital during 12 selected years, 1935–72. J. Infect. Dis. 136 (1977) 400–415.
Geisler, P. J., Nelson, K. E., Levin, S., Reddi, K. T., Moses, V. K. A review of 1316 cases during the antibiotic era 1954–1976. Rev. Infect. Dis. 2 (1980) 725–745.
Bohr, V., Hansen, B., Jessen, O., Johnsen, N., Kjersem, H., Kristensen, H. S., Nyboe, J., Rasmussen, N. Eight hundred and seventy-five cases of bacterial meningitis. Part 1 of a three-part series: Clinical data, prognosis, and the role of specialized hospital departments. J. Infect. 7 (1983) 21–30.
Bohr, V., Hansen, B., Kjersem, H., Rasmussen, N., Johnsen, N., Kristensen, H. S., Jessen, O. Sequelae from bacterial meningitis and their relation to the clinical condition during acute illness, based on 667 questionnaire returns. Part II of a three-part series. J. Infect. 7 (1983) 102–110.
Bohr, V., Rasmussen, N., Hansen, B., Kjersem, H., Jessen, O., Johnsen, N., Kristensen, H. S. 875 Cases of bacterial meningitis: Diagnostic procedures and the impact of preadmission antibiotic therapy. Part III of a three-part series. J. Infect. 7 (1983) 193–202.
Hansman, D. Meningococcal disease in South Australia: incidence and serogroup distribution 1971–1980. J. Hyg. 90 (1983) 49–54.
Ispahni, P. Bacterial meningitis in Nottingham. J. Hyg. 91 (1983) 189–201.
Weiss, W., Figueroa, W., Shapiro, W. H., Flippin, H. F. Prognostic factors in pneumococcal meningitis. Arch. Intern. Med. 120 (1967) 517–524.
Beard, L. J., Thong, Y. H. Immunological competence of children with pyogenic meningitis. Eur. J. Pediatr. 136 (1981) 231–235.
Veeder, M. H., Folds, J. D., Yount, W. J., Lee, T. J. Recurrent bacterial meningitis associated with C8 and IgA deficiency. J. Infect. Dis. 144 (1981) 399–402.
National Health Service of Denmark: Causes of death in the kingdom of Denmark. Annual medical reports, 1966–1976.
Cone, L., Uhr, J. W. Immunological deficiency disorders associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. J. Clin. Invest. 43 (1964) 2241–2248.
Wheat, L. S. Review: Infection and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 3 (1980) 189–197.
Orholm, M., Sørensen, T. I. A., Bentsen, K., Høybye, G., Egehøje, K., Christoffersen, P. Mortality of alcohol abusing men prospectively assessed in relation to history of abuse and degree of liver injury. Liver 5 (1985) 253–256.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kjersem, H., Bohr, V., Hanawalc et al. Mortality in the years following bacterial meningitis. Infection 14, 55–59 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644442
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01644442