Predictors of Outcome in Clinically Diagnosed Viral Encephalitis Patients: A 5-Year Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Viral encephalitis is the most common infectious disease of the central nervous system and is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and disability. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, auxiliary examinations, therapeutic management, and outcomes of patients clinically diagnosed with viral encephalitis and identify the outcome predictors. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study by collecting information from patients clinically diagnosed with viral encephalitis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2013 to December 2018. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors that influenced good patient outcomes (mRS < 3) and poor patient outcomes (mRS ≥ 3) at discharge. RESULTS: In total, 216 patients were enrolled in the study. The multivariate analysis suggested that the following factors were associated with a poor outcome: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (OR 0.154, 95% CI (0.078-0.302), and P < 0.001), focal neurological deficits (OR 9.403, 95% CI (1.581-55.928), and P = 0.014), and total length of hospital stay (OR 1.119, 95% CI (1.002-1.250), and P = 0.045). However, neurological intensive care unit (NICU) treatment, status epilepticus, and abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) findings did not influence the prognosis of patients. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that low GCS scores at admission, focal neurological deficits at admission, and a prolonged total hospital stay are predictors of a poor outcome at discharge in clinically diagnosed viral encephalitis patients. Whether early and effective neurological rehabilitation can improve the prognosis of viral encephalitis patients with focal neurological deficits remains to be confirmed in further studies.