Predictors of mortality in patients with meningeal tuberculosis

Meningeal tuberculosis (TB) has higher mortality compared to other forms of central nervous system TB. However, data on predictors of mortality is limited.

To determine the predictors of mortality in patients with meningeal TB.

This study retrospectively analyzed the data of patients admitted with a diagnosis of meningeal TB between January 2006 and December 2008. Thwaites' index score of four or less was used for the diagnosis of meningeal TB which is a weighted diagnostic index score for dichotomised clinical variables. Predictors of mortality were analyzed separately for both patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and without.

Univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression was done.

Univariate analysis showed age >40 years, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score <8, absence of headache, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein ≤60 mg% and Medical Research Council (MRC) Stage III at presentation to predict in-hospital mortality. In multinomial logistic regression age >40 years was a risk factor for mortality when HIV patients were included (P=0.049) as well as when they were excluded (P=0.048). CSF protein ͳ 60 mg% was found to be a significant risk factor when both HIV seropositive persons (P=0.011) as well as seronegative persons (P=0.004) were included. HIV seropositivity, steroid treatment or delay in treatment did not affect mortality.

Identification of factors predictive of in-hospital mortality will help to prognosticate patients with meningeal TB at the time of admission.