Mental Disorders in Necrotizing Fasciitis Compared to Matched Controls: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is associated with extensive surgery, amputations, and prolonged hospitalization that may increase stress on a patient and have deleterious consequences. What is not known is whether or not NF results in an increased incidence of mental disorders and associated healthcare utilization in the years after the infection compared to before infection. We hypothesize that the incidence of mental health disorders and associated health care utilization due to these outcomes will be significantly higher among the NF cohort than a matched control cohort. We have identified approximately 180 NF patients that will meet inclusion criteria. This clinical data is linked with administrative data at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. Cases will be matched 1:5 with controls from the general population based on age, sex and geographical region and aggregated diagnostic group, an indicator of co-morbidities. Outcomes will be both diagnoses and associated health care utilization for the 2 years’ duration prior compared to the 2 years’ duration post NF injury. We expect that NF patients will have a significantly higher incidence of mental health diagnosis and associated health care utilization compared to the match control cohort 2 years pre- and post-NF infection.