ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Outcomes of Critically Ill Adult Patients With Acute Encephalitis
Authors' conclusion
In this cohort study of adults with severe encephalitis requiring intensive care, one-half of patients had an unfavorable outcome at 3 months. Functional recovery at 1 year varied by cause of encephalitis, with patients with autoimmune encephalitis experiencing more favorable outcomes than those with other causes
Study context
- Population
- Adults with probable or confirmed encephalitis and clear CSF findings requiring ICU care, 31 French centres, 2017–2021
- Participants
- 310 adults
- Exposure
- Encephalitis causes: infectious, autoimmune, other causes, unknown origin
- Infectiousn = 123
- Autoimmunen = 42
- Other causesn = 37
- Unknown originn = 108
- Outcome
- Unfavorable outcome:
- Modified Rankin scale 3 to 6: moderate to severe disability
- Death
- Follow-up
- 3 months
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Unfavorable outcome (overall)
Unfavorable outcome, all patients: 161 patients
51.9%
95% CI 46.2%–57.6%
Deaths
27.1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Independent factors associated with unfavorable outcome · 3 monthsAge (per 5-year increment) | 1.28 (1.16–1.41) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
Independent factors associated with unfavorable outcome · 3 months
| OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Immunocompromised status | 3.12 (1.57–6.40) | |
| Intravenous acyclovir on the day of ICU admissionAssociated with a favorable outcome | 0.38 (0.20–0.72) | |
| 0.10.31310Odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Difference in proportions (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion achieving functional independence, 3 months to 1 year1 year vs 3 months · remained stable | 1.1% (−6.9% to 9.2%) | |
| −10−50510Difference (linear scale) |
Functional improvement through 1 year by encephalitis cause (subgroup)
| Difference in proportions (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autoimmune encephalitisSignificant improvement | 8.9% (1.2%–16.6%) | |
| Infectious causesNo significant change | 1.2% (−6.9% to 9.2%) | |
| Other causesNo significant change | 1.2% (−6.8% to 9.2%) | |
| Unknown originNo significant change | −1.9% (−10.0% to 6.2%) | |
| −20−1001020Difference (linear scale) |
Original publication
Outcomes of Critically Ill Adult Patients With Acute Encephalitis. JAMA Netw Open. Published 2 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →