Hypoglycorrhachia as a Central Diagnostic Feature inTuberculous Meningitis: Investigating its Relationshipwith Patient Age and Sex
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/q4jc7c36Keywords:
Tuberculous Meningitis; Hypoglycorrhachia; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Glucose; Age Factors; Sex Factors.Abstract
Background: Hypoglycorrhachia is a common cerebrospinal fluid biochemical abnormality in tuberculous meningitis, but variation in CSF glucose concentration according to patient demographic characteristics remains insufficiently characterized. Objective: To examine the association of patient age and sex with CSF glucose concentration among patients with confirmed tuberculous meningitis. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Neurology Department of General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from January to April 2025. A total of 120 patients with confirmed TBM were included in the final analysis. CSF glucose concentrations were compared according to sex and predefined age categories of 16–35, 36–50, and 51–80 years. Independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc comparisons, and multiple linear regression were used as applicable. Results: Mean CSF glucose concentration was 41.2 ± 12.1 mg/dL. Female participants had lower mean CSF glucose concentrations than male participants (34.1 ± 8.9 vs 47.3 ± 11.2 mg/dL; p < 0.001). Mean CSF glucose also decreased across age groups, from 45.1 ± 10.8 mg/dL among participants aged 16–35 years to 41.9 ± 11.5 mg/dL among those aged 36–50 years and 36.8 ± 9.5 mg/dL among those aged 51–80 years (ANOVA p = 0.002). Increasing age remained associated with lower CSF glucose in multivariable analysis (B = −0.21 mg/dL per year, 95% CI: −0.36 to −0.06; p = 0.008). A significant adjusted association with sex was also reported. Conclusion: CSF glucose concentration among patients with confirmed TBM was associated with age and sex, with lower concentrations observed among female and older participants. These findings demonstrate demographic variation within confirmed TBM cases but do not establish demographic-specific diagnostic thresholds. Further multicenter diagnostic and observational studies are required to determine the clinical significance of these associations
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Copyright (c) 2026 Danial Hassan Adil, Yaye Aby Lo, Marwa Liaqat Ali, Asim Patrick, Aqsa Batool, Qandeel Abbas Soomro, Irfan Ali, Nouman Aslam (Author)
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