OBJECTIVE: To examine biological and social risk factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents. DESIGN: Prospective, population based, matched cohort study with controls matched for age and sex in 1:1 matching. Controls were sought from the general practitioner. SETTING: Six contiguous regions of England, which represent some 65\% of the country's population. PARTICIPANTS: 15-19 year olds with meningococcal disease recruited at hospital admission in six regions (representing 65\% of the population of England) from January 1999 to June 2000, and their matched controls. METHODS: Blood samples and pernasal and throat swabs were taken from case patients at admission to hospital and from cases and matched controls at interview. Data on potential risk factors were gathered by confidential interview. Data were analysed by using univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: 144 case control pairs were recruited (74 male (51\%); median age 17.6). 114 cases (79\%) were confirmed microbiologically. Significant independent risk factors for meningococcal disease were history of preceding illness (matched odds ratio 2.9, 95\% confidence interval 1.4 to 5.9), intimate kissing with multiple partners (3.7, 1.7 to 8.1), being a university student (3.4, 1.2 to 10) and preterm birth (3.7, 1.0 to 13.5). Religious observance (0.09, 0.02 to 0.6) and meningococcal vaccination (0.12, 0.04 to 0.4) were associated with protection. CONCLUSIONS: Activities and events increasing risk for meningococcal disease in adolescence are different from in childhood. Students are at higher risk. Altering personal behaviours could moderate the risk. However, the development of further effective meningococcal vaccines remains a key public health priority.
%0 Journal Article
%1 tully_risk_2006
%A Tully, Joanna
%A Viner, Russell M
%A Coen, Pietro G
%A Stuart, James M
%A Zambon, Maria
%A Peckham, Catherine
%A Booth, Clare
%A Klein, Nigel
%A Kaczmarski, Ed
%A Booy, Robert
%D 2006
%J British Medical Journal
%K Activities, Adolescent, Adult, Behavior, Crowding, England, Epidemiologic Factors Health Humans, Infant, Infections, Leisure Life Meningococcal Methods, Newborn, Partners, Religion, Sexual Socioeconomic Style, Vaccines, {Risk-Taking,}
%N 7539
%P 445--50
%R bmj.38725.728472.BE
%T Risk and protective factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents: matched cohort study
%V 332
%X OBJECTIVE: To examine biological and social risk factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents. DESIGN: Prospective, population based, matched cohort study with controls matched for age and sex in 1:1 matching. Controls were sought from the general practitioner. SETTING: Six contiguous regions of England, which represent some 65\% of the country's population. PARTICIPANTS: 15-19 year olds with meningococcal disease recruited at hospital admission in six regions (representing 65\% of the population of England) from January 1999 to June 2000, and their matched controls. METHODS: Blood samples and pernasal and throat swabs were taken from case patients at admission to hospital and from cases and matched controls at interview. Data on potential risk factors were gathered by confidential interview. Data were analysed by using univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: 144 case control pairs were recruited (74 male (51\%); median age 17.6). 114 cases (79\%) were confirmed microbiologically. Significant independent risk factors for meningococcal disease were history of preceding illness (matched odds ratio 2.9, 95\% confidence interval 1.4 to 5.9), intimate kissing with multiple partners (3.7, 1.7 to 8.1), being a university student (3.4, 1.2 to 10) and preterm birth (3.7, 1.0 to 13.5). Religious observance (0.09, 0.02 to 0.6) and meningococcal vaccination (0.12, 0.04 to 0.4) were associated with protection. CONCLUSIONS: Activities and events increasing risk for meningococcal disease in adolescence are different from in childhood. Students are at higher risk. Altering personal behaviours could moderate the risk. However, the development of further effective meningococcal vaccines remains a key public health priority.
@article{tully_risk_2006,
abstract = {{OBJECTIVE:} To examine biological and social risk factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents. {DESIGN:} Prospective, population based, matched cohort study with controls matched for age and sex in 1:1 matching. Controls were sought from the general practitioner. {SETTING:} Six contiguous regions of England, which represent some 65\% of the country's population. {PARTICIPANTS:} 15-19 year olds with meningococcal disease recruited at hospital admission in six regions (representing 65\% of the population of England) from January 1999 to June 2000, and their matched controls. {METHODS:} Blood samples and pernasal and throat swabs were taken from case patients at admission to hospital and from cases and matched controls at interview. Data on potential risk factors were gathered by confidential interview. Data were analysed by using univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression. {RESULTS:} 144 case control pairs were recruited (74 male (51\%); median age 17.6). 114 cases (79\%) were confirmed microbiologically. Significant independent risk factors for meningococcal disease were history of preceding illness (matched odds ratio 2.9, 95\% confidence interval 1.4 to 5.9), intimate kissing with multiple partners (3.7, 1.7 to 8.1), being a university student (3.4, 1.2 to 10) and preterm birth (3.7, 1.0 to 13.5). Religious observance (0.09, 0.02 to 0.6) and meningococcal vaccination (0.12, 0.04 to 0.4) were associated with protection. {CONCLUSIONS:} Activities and events increasing risk for meningococcal disease in adolescence are different from in childhood. Students are at higher risk. Altering personal behaviours could moderate the risk. However, the development of further effective meningococcal vaccines remains a key public health priority.},
added-at = {2011-03-11T10:05:34.000+0100},
author = {Tully, Joanna and Viner, Russell M and Coen, Pietro G and Stuart, James M and Zambon, Maria and Peckham, Catherine and Booth, Clare and Klein, Nigel and Kaczmarski, Ed and Booy, Robert},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2b6da893bf3cd869525de14fd8c170825/jelias},
doi = {bmj.38725.728472.BE},
interhash = {6539ca4f9462a21572ad610145a169ad},
intrahash = {b6da893bf3cd869525de14fd8c170825},
issn = {1468-5833},
journal = {British Medical Journal},
keywords = {Activities, Adolescent, Adult, Behavior, Crowding, England, Epidemiologic Factors Health Humans, Infant, Infections, Leisure Life Meningococcal Methods, Newborn, Partners, Religion, Sexual Socioeconomic Style, Vaccines, {Risk-Taking,}},
month = feb,
note = {{PMID:} 16473859},
number = 7539,
pages = {445--50},
shorttitle = {Risk and protective factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents},
timestamp = {2011-03-11T10:06:24.000+0100},
title = {Risk and protective factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents: matched cohort study},
volume = 332,
year = 2006
}