Key result
Pneumococcal meningitis and herpes simplex encephalitis were associated with a -19.9% and -21.1% decreased probability of employment at 5 years, respectively, compared to matched controls.
Why the study?
Do central nervous system infections reduce employment and increase disability pension receipt in adults?
Cohort (n=2,552)
Yes
Do central nervous system infections reduce employment and increase disability pension receipt in adults?
Pneumococcal meningitis and herpes simplex encephalitis are associated with substantially decreased employment and increased need for disability pension 5 years after diagnosis.
CNS infections may impair long-term employment; leaves open causal mechanisms and mitigation strategies in observational cohorts.
In this nationwide population-based cohort study using national Danish registries, in the period 1980-2008, our aim was to study employment and receipt of disability pension after central nervous system infections. All patients diagnosed between 20 and 55 years of age with meningococcal (n = 451), pneumococcal (n = 553), or viral (n = 1,433) meningitis or with herpes simplex encephalitis (n = 115), who were alive 1 year after diagnosis, were identified. Comparison cohorts were drawn from the general population, and their members were individually matched on age and sex to patients. Five years after diagnosis, the differences in probability of being employed as a former patient with pneumococcal meningitis or herpes simplex encephalitis versus being a member of the comparison cohorts were -19.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): -24.7, -15.1) and -21.1% (95% CI: -33.0, -9.3), respectively, and the corresponding differences in probability of receiving disability pension were 20.2% (95% CI: 13.7, 26.7) and 16.2% (95% CI: 6.2, 26.3). The differences in probability of being employed or receiving disability pension in former meningococcal or viral meningitis patients versus members of the comparison cohorts were small. In conclusion, pneumococcal meningitis and herpes simplex encephalitis were associated with substantially decreased employment and increased need for disability pension. These associations did not seem to apply to meningococcal meningitis or viral meningitis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Roed et al. (2015) conducted a cohort in Central nervous system infections (n=2,552). Central nervous system infections vs. General population matched on age and sex was evaluated on Probability of being employed 5 years after diagnosis (pneumococcal meningitis vs comparison) (Difference -19.9%, 95% CI -24.7 to -15.1). Pneumococcal meningitis and herpes simplex encephalitis were associated with a -19.9% and -21.1% decreased probability of employment at 5 years, respectively, compared to matched controls.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: