Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41205067›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology2026

Tick-borne encephalitis in Norway: A cohort study of clinical course and health-related quality of life at three- and twelve-month follow-up.

Hilde Skudal, Tore Stenstad, Åslaug Rudjord Lorentzen, Else Quist-Paulsen, Jens Egeland, Børre Fevang, Keson Jaioun, Malin Veje, Bjørn Åsheim Hansen, Anne Marit Solheim and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hilde SkudalDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Telemark Hospital Trust, Skien, Norway. hskudal@sthf.no.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0707-8236
Tore StenstadDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8566-7039
Åslaug Rudjord LorentzenFaculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6918-4157
Else Quist-PaulsenDepartment of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1633-5660
Jens EgelandDivision of Mental Health and Addiction, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7322-9266
Børre FevangFaculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6828-0609
Keson JaiounDepartment of Research, Telemark Hospital Trust, Skien, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-7527-3487
Malin VejeDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5487-0616
Bjørn Åsheim HansenDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3050-2373
Anne Marit SolheimDepartment of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital Trust, Kristiansand, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7357-6287
Hege KerstenFaculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1063-5985
Randi EikelandSørlandet Hospital Trust, Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tick-borne Diseases, Kristiansand, Norway.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0104-9626

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeKnowledge of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) prognosis is limited. This study aimed to describe the disease course in the first year and assess one-year outcomes, focusing on clinical recovery and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL).

methodsIn this cohort study, we recruited hospitalized patients ≥ 16 years with confirmed TBE from hospitals in Norway's endemic area. A composite clinical score consisting of variables on symptoms and neurological findings was scored at baseline (during hospitalization), 3- and 12 months. HR-QoL at 12 months was measured using RAND 36-item short form health survey and compared to the Norwegian reference population.

resultsAmong the 93 patients included, clinical improvement from baseline to 3 months was 68%, increasing to 77% by 12 months. The proportion of patients with symptoms or neurological findings influencing daily life was 98% at baseline, 52% at 3 months, and 41% at 12 months. 14% required inpatient rehabilitation, and 4/56 (7%) of active workers were on full-time sick leave at 12 months. Severe disease and comorbidities were linked to poorer outcomes. Most common symptoms influencing daily life at 12 months were fatigue (28%), concentration issues (13%) memory and sleep difficulties (12% each), while 8% had clinical findings where impaired balance and tremor dominated. Patients scored lower in physical health and social functioning regarding HR-QoL than reference population.

conclusionMost improvements occur during the first three months; however, 41% of patients experience ongoing complaints at 12 months, impacting HR-QoL regarding physical health. Severe disease and comorbidities correlate with poorer prognoses.

trial registrationProject #2,296,959 - The NOrwegian Tick-borne Encephalitis Study - NOTES. An Observational Study on Clinical Features, Long-term Outcomes and Immune Characteristics - Cristin.

Indexed as

Encephalitis, Tick-BorneQuality of LifeAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCohort StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHospitalizationHumansMaleMiddle AgedNorwayPrognosisYoung AdultLong-term outcomeNeuroinfectionQuality of lifeTBETick-borne encephalitis

Identifiers

PMID41205067
PMCPMC12987897

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.