Counting the Cost of Meningococcal Disease: Scenarios of Severe Meningitis and Septicemia

Abstract

Background Meningococcal disease can result in severe disabling sequelae, but there is no published information about the lifelong rehabilitation costs of patients with severe outcome in the UK. As cost-effectiveness studies play a crucial role in determining whether immunization programmes will be implemented, it is important to identify these costs. Objective The aim of the study was to estimate lifelong rehabilitation costs associated with severe cases of meningococcal disease and to present these costs in a format appropriate for use in a cost-effectiveness analysis. Methods Two severe scenarios of meningococcal disease with major sequelae were developed; one that presented acutely as meningitis and the other as septicemia. Scenarios were based on systematic reviews of the literature describing the sequelae of meningococcal disease, dialogue with Meningitis Research Foundation members who have experience of the disease, and discussions with pediatricians who have been responsible for managing children with this disease over many years. The two scenarios were devised to represent cases typical of the severe end of the spectrum. To obtain a comprehensive list of the health, educational and other resources used by survivors during and since their acute illness, families of individuals with sequelae similar to those in each of our scenarios were interviewed. Relevant academics and professionals in health, social care and education were consulted in order to ensure that our sc…