Table 4 Risk factors for fatality in HIV-negative cryptococcal meningitis

Sex (Male/female)

76/45

32/25

0.435

Mean age at onset

50.89 ± 18.8

56.49 ± 17.16

0.058

Mean GCS on presentation

13.65 ± 12.35

11.12 ± 4.30

<0.0001

Underlying diseases

Diabetes mellitus

20 (16.2)

14 (24.6)

0.186

1.677

0.776-3.622

Pulmonary TB

8 (6.5)

4 (7.0)

1

1.085

0.313-3.762

Systemic lupus erythematosus

7 (5.7)

1 (1.8)

0.439

0.296

0.036-2.464

Liver cirrhosis

4 (3.3)

9 (15.8)

0.004

5.578

1.639-18.98

Chronic alcoholism

1 (0.8)

2 (3.5)

0.236

4.436

0.394-49.964

Autoimmune diseases

2 (1.6)

3 (5.2)

0.328

3.361

0.546-20.697

Hematologic diseases

6 (4.9)

2 (3.5)

1

0.709

0.139-3.627

Malignance

6 (4.9)

5 (8.8)

0.31

1.875

0.548-6.421

Iatrogenic Cushing syndrome

5 (4.0)

8 (14.0)

0.016

3.853

1.201-12.364

Clinical features

Fever/chills

68 (55.3)

42 (73.7)

0.018

2.265

1.138-4.508

Headache

60 (48.8)

27 (47.4)

0.86

0.945

0.504-1.772

Disturbed consciousness

44 (35.8)

33 (57.9)

0.005

2.469

1.299-4.692

Visual disturbance

19 (15.4)

7 (12.3)

0.574

0.766

0.302-1.942

Hearing impairment

4 (3.3)

2 (3.5)

1

1.082

0.192-6.085

Seizure

13 (10.6)

15 (26.3)

0.007

3.022

1.326-6.885

Neuro-imaging findings at presentation

Hydrocephalus

59 (48.0)

31 (54.4)

0.423

1.293

0.689-2.428

Cerebral infarction

12 (9.8)

6 (10.5)

0.873

1.088

0.387-3.062

Gyral enhancement

13 (10.6)

6 (10.5)

0.996

0.995

0.358-2.768

Basal cistern effacement

5 (4.0)

6 (10.5)

0.092

2.776

0.81-9.513

Pseudo-cyst

8 (6.5)

3 (5.3)

1

0.799

0.204-3.129

Dilated Virchow-Robin space

9 (7.3)

4 (7.0)

1

0.956

0.282-3.245

Mass lesions

6 (4.9)

4 (7.0)

0.728

1.472

0.399-5.433

Peripheral blood testing

Leukocytosis

28 (22.8)

17 (29.8)

0.309

1.442

0.711-2.924

Leucopenia

2 (1.6)

0

1

0.68

0.615-0.752

Thrombocytopenia

9 (7.3)

9 (15.8)

0.078

2.375

0.888-6.351

Hyponatremia

17 (13.8)

9 (15.8)

0.727

1.169

0.486-2.81

CSF study

Opening pressure (mmH2O)

356.7 ± 143.6

379.9 ± 149.3

0.679

Sugar (mg/dl)

40.77 ± 34.11

35.69 ± 27.80

0.390

Total Protein (mg/dl)

210.30 ± 360.94

235.75 ± 339.47

0.688

Lactate (mg/dl)

48.76 ± 34.90

65.38 ± 40.92

0.015

CSF cryptococcal antigen titer

≥1:1024

48 (39.0)

41 (71.9)

<0.001

4.0

2.03-7.92

<1:1024

75 (61.0)

16 (28.1)

Outcome

Median (IRQ) hospitalization days

63.32 ± 49.39

48.44 ± 38.43

0.107