Background Shunt obstruction is a type of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) failure. Whether changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters can influence shunt outcomes or not is debatable. Methods In this study, we retrospectively included adult hydrocephalus patients who received VPS from 6 general hospitals in different provinces of China from November 2013 to September 2021. The inclusion criteria: Patients with hydrocephalus of all etiologies underwent shunt surgery from 6 general hospitals in different provinces of China were included in the study. The exclusion criteria: 1.Patients under the age of 18; 2.Patients who had previous shunt surgery; 3. Shunt failure from other factors; 4.Patients died from other causes; 5. Patients with incomplete data. The CSF of shunt patients had been analyzed at the time of shunt insertion. The CSF samples were collected and analyzed when the shunt was implanted. The relationship between CSF parameters and the incidence rate of shunt obstruction in one year was analyzed. Results A total of 717 eligible patients from 6 hospitals were included, of whom 59(8.23%) experienced obstruction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that protein level(odds ratio [OR] 1.161, 95% CI 1.005 similar to 1.341, p = 0.043), decreased glucose level(< 2.5 mmol/L)(odds ratio 3.784, 95% confidence interval 1.872 similar to 7.652, p = 0.001) and protein level increase(> 0.45 g/L) (odds ratio 3.653, 95% confidence interval 1.931 similar to 6.910, p = 0.001)were independent risk factors of shunt obstruction. Conclusion This study suggested that increased protein level (> 0.45 g/L) and decreased glucose level (< 2.5 mmol/L) in CSF indicated an increased risk of shunt obstruction in a patient with hydrocephalus. Thus, shunt surgery should be more carefully considered when the CSF glucose and protein were abnormal.