Cognitive functioning and quality of life nine years after bacterial meningitis.

OBJECTIVE

To examine recovery of psychological functioning nine years after meningitis.

METHODS

In a follow-up study, cognitive functioning and quality of life were evaluated in 28 adults 8-10 years after recovery from bacterial meningitis (n=17 due to Streptococcus pneumoniae; n=11 due to Neisseria meningitidis), and 13 controls. Test results were compared with those performed one year after the disease. All patients were well recovered at discharge (defined as a score on the Glasgow Outcome Scale of 5), but some pneumococcal patients still showed cognitive slowness and low quality of life one year after bacterial meningitis.

RESULTS

At follow-up, psychological functioning and quality of life of patients and controls were similar. On group level, cognitive functioning had normalized. This was also true for patients after pneumococcal meningitis, although some cognitive slowness persisted on an individual level.

CONCLUSION

Psychological functioning continues to improve slowly during the first decade after bacterial meningitis.