Risk Factors for Contracting Invasive Meningococcal Disease and Related Mortality: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dubey, Himanshu; Oster, Philipp; Fazeli, Mir Sohail; Guedes, Sandra; Serafini, Paul; Leung, Lisa; Amiche, Amine
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 119(2022)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Meningococcal Infections -- Meningitis, Meningococcal -- Risk Factors -- Systematic Review -- Meta-Analysis; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.03.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Highlights: This is the first meta-analysis of risk factors for IMD across all age groups. HIV + status, passive smoke exposure, and crowded living spaces increase risk of IMD. Increased risk for IMD-related mortality was related to age and serogroup. There is a lack of research reporting on interactions between risk factors. Abstract: Objectives: To describe risk factors (RFs) and quantify their effects in invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and associated mortality across all age groups based on the available published literature. Methods: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted via MEDLINE® and Embase. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. Associations between RFs and outcomes were quantified via a meta-analysis (MA). Results: Seventy-four studies (date range 1950 – 2018) were included in the SLR. Statistically significant RFs for contracting IMD identified from the SLR (within-study) included previous IMD infection and young age (0 – 4 years). MA indicated that significant RFs for contracting IMD (11 studies) were: HIV-positive status, passive smoke exposure, and crowded living space. In the MA for IMD-related mortality risk (11 studies), age 25 – 45 years (vs. 0 – 5 years) and serogroup C (vs. serogroup B) were significantly associated with increased risk. Conclusions: Previous findings of higher risk for IMD contraction with smoke exposure and crowded living conditions in children/adolescents have been extended by this SLR/MA to all age groups. We provide strong evidence for higher risk of IMD in HIV-positive individuals, and confirm previous findings of higher IMD-related mortality risk in adults aged 25 – 45.