Highlight
– Approximately half of critically ill adult patients with acute encephalitis experience moderate to severe disability or death at 3 months post-ICU admission.
– Autoimmune encephalitis patients demonstrate significant functional improvement through 1 year, unlike other etiologic groups.
– Advanced age and immunocompromised status independently predict unfavorable outcomes, while early intravenous acyclovir correlates with improved prognosis.
– Functional independence remains largely stable beyond 3 months, underscoring the critical window for early intervention and rehabilitation.
