The prognostic factors for cryptococcal meningitis in non‐human immunodeficiency virus patients: An observational study using nationwide database

Background Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is an invasive fungal infection with a poor prognosis that often occurs in both healthy individuals and compromised hosts, such as patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Unlike CM in HIV patients, evidence regarding CM in non‐HIV patients is limited to small retrospective studies. Objective To identify the pretreatment prognostic factors for CM in non‐HIV patients. Methods We conducted a large retrospective analysis of CM in non‐HIV patients using data from a nationwide Japanese database. The study included hospitalized patients diagnosed with CM between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2017. All‐cause mortality was compared between patients with CM with and without HIV infection. Poor diagnostic factors were analysed in the non‐HIV CM group. Results Overall, 533 (64 HIV and 469 non‐HIV) patients met the criteria. The mortality rate at 90 days was significantly lower in the HIV group (6.3% vs. 25.4% p = .0002). In a logistic regression analysis of the non‐HIV group, age ≥ 65 y (odds ratio [OR] 2.37, 95% CI 1.17–4.78), impaired consciousness (Japan Coma Scale ≥1) (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.29–3.93), haemodialysis (OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.12–11.20) and previous corticosteroid usage (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.37–4.19) were associated with poor prognosis at 30 days after diagnosis. Conclusion More caution is suggested when treating non‐HIV with CM in older patients with impaired consciousness, previous corticosteroid usage and haemodialysis.