A database study of clinical and economic burden of invasive meningococcal disease in France

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is life-threatening and associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to examine the clinical characteristics and hospital-based healthcare resource use and related costs following IMD diagnosis in France.

Patients admitted to hospitals due to IMD between 2014 and 2016 were selected from the French hospital discharge database (PMSI). Demographics, clinical outcomes and health utilization (HRU) during index hospitalization were described. HRU and costs during the follow-up period were also examined. A generalized linear model was applied to examine 1-year costs after index hospitalization adjusting for age, type of IMD and presence of sequelae at index hospitalization.

A total of 1,344 patients were identified. About 30% cases were in children < 5 years old and 25% aged 10-24 years. Majority of patients presented as meningococcal meningitis (59%), 25% as meningococcaemia, and 9% both. The case fatality rate during the index hospitalization was 6%. About 15% of patients had at least one sequela at index hospital discharge. The median length of stay and the median cost of index hospitalization were 9 days and 8,045€, respectively. Patients with at least one sequela, with clinical manifestation as both meningitis and meningococcaemia, or aged 25 years and older were statistically significantly associated with higher costs than others.

IMD is unpredictable and can occur in all ages. The study highlights the severity and high health and economic burdens associated with the disease. The data underlines the importance of prevention against IMD through vaccination.