Non-Neoplastic Etiologies of Adult-Onset Hydrocephalus

Objective: To analyze non-neoplastic causes of adult-onset hydrocephalus and review their associations with clinical parameters. Materials & Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery of a tertiary care hospital, from 1st January 2024 to 30th June 2024. We included 89 adult patients with hydrocephalus of any cause except brain tumors. To diagnose each type of hydrocephalus, we have established primary selection criteria based on patient history and imaging results. Results: In our analysis, meningitis was the leading cause of hydrocephalus (n=28, 31.46%), followed by subarachnoid hemorrhage (n=23, 25.84%), trauma (n=21, 23.59%), and hydrocephalus with normal pressure (n=17, 19.1%). Among the four mentioned etiologies, meningitis was more common in the fourth and fifth decade of life (12/28 patients, p = 0.166), whereas the rest of the etiologies were more prevalent in the sixth to seventh decade, highlighting a significant correlation between age and these conditions. Additionally, significant p-values also suggested a correlation between gender and etiology in this cohort. However, when comparing genders, trauma was observed more frequently among male patients while subarachnoid hemorrhage and meningitis were noted more often among female patients. Conclusion: In our study, meningitis was the most common cause of hydrocephalus. A better understanding of non-neoplastic causes and their links to demographics will improve risk assessment and management in patients.