Long-Term Mortality and State Financial Support in Invasive Meningococcal Disease-Real-World Data Analysis Using the French National Claims Database (SNIIRAM).

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an uncommon disease mainly affecting children, with severe consequences such as a risk of dying within hours of symptoms and a risk of developing long-term conditions affecting health, learning and ability to work. Little is known of the risk of dying in survivors after discharge from hospital or of survivors' financial support needs. The French national insurance claims database (SNIIRAM) was reviewed for data on IMD patients hospitalised between 2012 and 2017 and matched controls without IMD. Data, available following IMD hospitalisation for an average of around 3 years, were extrapolated to estimate the lifelong impact of the disease. Among 3532 hospitalised IMD cases, the study found that nearly 13% died, of which a third of deaths occurred post-discharge. The cases who survived the acute disease phase were also more likely to require government funds because of loss of salary or to cover long-term healthcare costs. In addition to the well-known acute phase burden of IMD, this study has shown that there is a long-term effect on risk of dying and on need for government support. This demonstrates the importance of prevention, for example, by vaccination.