Introduction

: Meningeal cryptococcosis (MC) is a frequent cause of meningoencephalitis in people living with HIV (PLHIV), leading to substantial morbidity (20- 55%). Clinical characteristics, lethality and adverse prog nostic factors in PLHIV with MC admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are described.

Methods

: A retrospective observational study. Period from 11/21/2006 to 05/24/2023. It involved 154 adult PLHIV diagnosed with MC and admitted to ICUs. Percen tages and absolute values were compared by Chi-Square or Fisher’s test and medians by Mann-Whitney test. The association with mortality was assessed by logistic re gression. SPSS 23.0 software was used. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

: Patients who died and those who survived were comparable in age and sex (p>0.05). Univariate analysis showed that impaired functional and nutritio nal status, lack of previous highly active antiretroviral therapy, CD4 <100 cells, APACHE II ≥13 and a PLHIV prognostic score ≥8 points, requiring mechanical venti lation (MV), respiratory failure, renal failure, neurological dysfunction or sepsis could be associated (p<0.05) with mortality. Logistic regression established that impaired functional and nutritional status, a PLHIV prognostic score ≥8, need for MV and presence of sepsis would be independent variables associated with mortality.

Conclusion

: The results indicate that altered functio nal and nutritional status, a PLHIV prognostic score ≥ 8 points, requiring MV and suffering sepsis on admission to the ICU are more frequent in deceased patients, and they could therefore serve as independent variables to predict a higher risk of mortality.