Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42361014›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Inpatient mortality and associated clinical factors among people living with HIV with cryptococcal meningitis in Uganda: A retrospective cohort study.

Joshua Kitimbo, Esther Buregyeya, Geofrey Mutole, John Paul Ibanda, Joseph Tumwine, Noah Kiwanuka, Thomas Buyinza

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Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Joshua KitimboDepartment of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7805-9542
Esther BuregyeyaDepartment of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Geofrey MutoleDepartment of Health Policy Planning and Management, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
John Paul IbandaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Joseph TumwineCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Noah KiwanukaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Thomas BuyinzaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4615-1264

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCryptococcal meningitis remains a leading cause of HIV-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa despite expanded antiretroviral therapy coverage. Evidence on the burden of disease and inpatient mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in routine care settings in Uganda remains limited. This study assessed the proportion of cryptococcal meningitis among HIV-related admissions and examined clinical factors associated with inpatient mortality.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult PLHIV admitted with cryptococcal meningitis between 1st/01/2017-31st/12/2022 at a national referral hospital in Uganda. Diagnosis was based on cerebrospinal fluid cryptococcal antigen or India ink positivity. Data were abstracted from medical records and analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with inpatient mortality. Specific antifungal treatment regimens were not consistently documented and could not be analysed.

resultsOf 3,042 HIV-related admissions, cryptococcal meningitis accounted for 21.4% (650/3,042). Medical records for 634 patients were analysed, among whom 39.3% (249/634) died during hospitalization. Factors independently associated with higher odds of inpatient mortality included convulsions, headache, vomiting, cryptococcal meningitis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, concurrent opportunistic infections, chronic kidney disease, anaemia, and severe immunosuppression (low CD4 cell count). Longer duration of hospitalization (≥7 days) and symptom duration of one to two weeks before admission were associated with lower odds of mortality.

conclusionCryptococcal meningitis continues to account for a substantial proportion of HIV-related hospital admissions and inpatient deaths in Uganda. Mortality is associated with identifiable clinical and health-system factors, underscoring the need for early diagnosis, risk stratification, and optimized inpatient management for PLHIV with cryptococcal meningitis in resource-limited settings.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsHospital MortalityMeningitis, CryptococcalAdultAIDS-Related Opportunistic InfectionsFemaleHospitalizationHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsUganda

Identifiers

PMID42361014
PMCPMC13308784

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.