Publication:

Effect of co morbidities on the clinical outcome of Dengue fever

Background Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. A number of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) risk factors had been suggested. However, these risk factors may not be generalized to all populations and epidemics for screening and clinical management of patients at risk of developing DHF/ Dengue shock syndrome (DSS).

Methods A hospital based prospective case control study was done by taking 40 cases each of dengue fever with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, diabetes and hypertension and 30 cases of dengue with asthma/COPD and these patients were compared with controls of 100 patients with dengue fever but no comorbidities. All patients had Dengue serology NS1 or IgM positive.

Results Patients admitted with dengue fever with comorbidities had increased duration of hospitalization with P value of 0.012. The clinical outcome of the 250 patients. In the subgroup of dengue fever patients with DM and Dengue fever with DM and HTN, they were noted to have a 2.69 and 3.06 times increased risk effect of DHF.

Conclusions Dengue fever with DM or DM with HTN have a higher risk of developing DHF when compared with patients with dengue fever with no comorbidities. This finding helps us in triaging patients with comorbidities who develop dengue fever for specialized care and closer clinical monitoring.