title: Long-term mortality of patients with septic ocular or central nervous system complications from pyogenic liver abscess: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Taiwan is endemic for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). Septic ocular or central nervous system (CNS) complications derived from PLA can result in catastrophic disability. We investigated the epidemiology and long-term prognosis of PLA patients with septic ocular or CNS complications over an 8-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We extracted 21,307 patients with newly diagnosed PLA from a nationwide health registry in Taiwan between 2000 and 2007. The frequency of and risk factors for PLA with septic ocular or CNS complications were determined. The 2-year survival of these patients was compared between those with and without septic ocular or CNS complications. Septic ocular or CNS complications accounted for 2.1% of all PLA patients. Age and the Charlson comorbidity index were significantly lower in PLA patients with ocular or CNS complications than those without. Diabetes and age <65 years were independent predictors of septic ocular or CNS complications. The 2-year mortality of patients with septic ocular or CNS complications was similar to those without complications (24.8% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.502). However, among patients <65 years old and a Charlson index ≤ 1, the 2-year mortality was significantly higher in those with than without complications (18.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians should recognize that catastrophic disability due to ocular or neurological complications from PLA could lead to a poor long-term prognosis, and should follow-up these patients more closely.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Tsung
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tzeng-Ji
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chang-Phone
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D046290:Liver Abscess, Pyogenic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult