Objective To explore the predictive factors for long-term adverse prognosis in patients with tuberculosis meningitis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data (general clinical data, laboratory test results, and imaging findings) of hospitalized cases of tuberculosis meningitis admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 00:00:00 on August 1st, 2011 to 23:59:59 on July 31st, 2012. We collected data of prognosis results after 6 years of illness by telephone follow-up, and quantified outcome measures by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (0–6 points). According to the mRS score, the cases obtaining 0 points≤mRS<3 points were divided into the good prognosis group and the cases obtaining 3≤mRS≤6 points were divided into the poor prognosis group, logistic regression analysis was executed to find the independent risk factors affecting long-term poor prognosis. Results A total of 119 cases were included, including 63 males and 56 females; the average age was (35±17) years. Among them, 53 patients had poor prognosis and 66 patients had good prognosis. After univariate analysis, the age (t=–3.812, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure at admission (t=–2.009, P=0.049), Glasgow Coma Scale score (t=3.987, P<0.001), Medical Research Council (MRC) staging system (Z=–4.854, P<0.001), headache (χ2=4.101, P=0.043), alter consciousness (χ2=10.621, P=0.001), cognitive dysfunction (χ2=4.075, P=0.044), cranial nerve palsy (χ2=5.853, P=0.016), peripheral nerve dysfunction (χ2=14.925, P<0.001), meningeal irritation (χ2=7.174, P=0.007), serum potassium (t=3.080, P=0.003), cerebrospinal fluid protein content (Z=–2.568, P=0.010), cerebrospinal fluid chlorine (t=2.543, P=0.012), hydrocephalus (χ2=11.766, P=0.001), and cerebral infarction (χ2=6.539, P=0.012) were associated with long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Multivariate analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR)=1.061, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.027, 1.096), P<0.001], peripheral nerve dysfunction [OR=3.537, 95%CI (1.070, 11.697), P=0.038], MRC Stage Ⅱ[OR=9.317, 95%CI (1.692, 51.303), P=0.010], MRC Stage Ⅲ [OR=43.953, 95%CI (3.996, 483.398), P=0.002] were the independent risk factors for long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Hydrocephalus [OR=2.826, 95%CI (0.999, 8.200), P=0.050] might be an independent risk factor for long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Conclusions Age, MRC staging system (Stage Ⅱ, Stage Ⅲ) and peripheral neurological dysfunction are chronic poor-prognostic independent risk factors for tuberculosis meningitis. Hydrocephalus may be associated with long-term adverse prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis