By univariate logistic regression analysis, HIV co-infection (OR 35.67, P < 0.001), CD4+ T cell less than 550 /uL (OR 10.94, P < 0.001), and age less than 45 (OR 7.16 for age ≤24, OR 3.87 for age 25–44, P < 0.001) were risk factors for TBM, and TBM was associated with higher mortality rates (OR 10.52, P < 0.001) (Table S3). Here, CD4 is linked to meningeal tuberculosis.