Complications and long-term sequelae of tick-borne encephalitis: association with age and other predictors - a multicenter observational study.
Ticks and tick-borne diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102624
- PMID
- 41849966
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W7138381547
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Publisher unavailable
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The substantial proportion of patients enduring chronic symptoms reinforces the importance of broadening immunization initiatives in affected regions where current participation rates remain insufficient.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
Identifies predictors of initial illness intensity and subsequent chronic neurological conditions following confirmed infection.
Study design
A prospective, multi-site observational cohort tracking individuals through a defined six-month recovery period.
Population and setting
Individuals with laboratory-verified infection recruited from four healthcare facilities in the Czech Republic during 2023 and 2024.
Main findings
Individuals exceeding fifty years of age demonstrated increased odds of experiencing an intense initial illness phase. Approximately forty-five percent of participants reported lingering symptoms at the six-month mark, occurring independently of initial disease intensity or demographic factors. Lasting movement impairments correlated with advanced age, while female participants exhibited reduced susceptibility to prolonged complications.
Public-health relevance
The substantial proportion of patients enduring chronic symptoms reinforces the importance of broadening immunization initiatives in affected regions where current participation rates remain insufficient.
Important limitations
The cohort experienced notable attrition before the designated follow-up interval concluded, and the exclusive reliance on a single national healthcare network may restrict applicability to other populations.
GIDS interpretation
This record supplies historical epidemiological parameters concerning symptom persistence and demographic correlations within a defined European territory, serving as contextual reference material for ongoing thematic tracking efforts.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 8 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.