Incidence and Mortality of Tuberculous Meningitis in the Atlántico Department (Colombia): A Retrospective Study

Authors

  • Andrea Barrios-Fontalvo Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia
  • Melissa Gutiérrez-Rey Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia
  • Iván Zuluaga De León Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia
  • Yisel Pinillos-Patiño Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia
  • Sergio Flores-Hernández Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (México)
  • José Enrique Vargas-Manotas Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia
  • Luisa Carbal-Reyes Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.42.02.915.693

Keywords:

meningitis, tuberculosis, meningeal, incidence, risk factors, social class, coinfection

Abstract

Objective: To determine the incidence and factors associated with mortality from tuberculous meningitis
in the department of Atlántico between 2013 and 2023.
Materials and methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted using
databases of cases notified to the Departmental Health Secretariat. Of 8,556 records, 162 cases of
meningeal tuberculosis were included after verifying inclusion criteria and data quality. Univariate
and bivariate analyses by discharge condition were performed using hypothesis tests and p-values.
Relative risk was estimated to identify variables associated with mortality.
Results: The average incidence of meningitis was 8.55 per 100,000 inhabitants. Meningeal tuberculosis
accounted for 2.2% of all cases. Of the patients included, 76.5% died before completing
treatment; 65.4% were men, with a median age of 39.5 years (IQR: 34.75-46.75). Regarding economic
factors, 72.8% belonged to a low socioeconomic stratum, whereas 75.3% had a normal body
mass index. Finally, 96.9% were new cases and 43.2% had HIV co-infection. None of the variables
showed a statistically significant association with mortality.
Discussion and conclusion: This is the first study to estimate the specific mortality rate from meningeal
tuberculosis over a 10-year period in Atlántico. Comparatively, the frequency of this clinical
form is lower in Colombia than in other Latin American countries. Although infrequent, meningeal
tuberculosis has high mortality rates in this region of the country.

Author Biographies

  • Andrea Barrios-Fontalvo, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

    Médica. Especialista en Neurología, Universidad Simón Bolívar (Colombia).
    abarrios41@unisimon.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9639-4432

  • Melissa Gutiérrez-Rey, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

    Médica. Especialista en Neurología, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla
    (Colombia). melissa.gutierrez1@unisimon.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-
    1878-3432

  • Iván Zuluaga De León, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

    Médico. Especialista en Medicina Interna Intensivista. Especialista en Infectología.
    Profesor, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Universidad Libre (Colombia). ivanzuluaga@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7730-5588

  • Yisel Pinillos-Patiño, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

    Fisioterapeuta. Especialista en Adaptación y Rehabilitación Cardiopulmonar y
    Vascular. Magíster en Salud Pública. Profesora e investigadora, Centro de
    Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Simón Bolívar (Colombia).
    yisel.pinillos@unisimon.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5047-3883

  • Sergio Flores-Hernández, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (México)

    Médico. Especialista en Pediatría. Doctor en Ciencias de Salud Pública-Epidemiología.
    Investigador, Centro de Investigación en Sistemas de Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (México). sergio.flores@insp.mx. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5773-9234

  • José Enrique Vargas-Manotas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Colombia

    Médico. Especialista en Neurología. Máster en Neuroinmunología. Director,
    Especialización en Neurología, Universidad Simón Bolívar (Colombia).
    Jose.vargas@unisimon.edu.co. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0025-0259

  • Luisa Carbal-Reyes, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia

    Bacterióloga. Magíster en Epidemiología. Miembro del Grupo de Inmunología Celular e Inmunogenética (GICIG), Grupo Malaria, Universidad de Antioquia (Colombia).
    luisacarbal@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7637-6405

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Published

2026-07-09

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

How to Cite

Incidence and Mortality of Tuberculous Meningitis in the Atlántico Department (Colombia): A Retrospective Study. (2026). SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 42(2), 337-350. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.42.02.915.693

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