Factors associated with deaths from dengue in a city in a metropolitan region in Southeastern Brazil: a case-control study

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Selma Costa de Sousa, Thais Almeida Marques da Silva, Aleida Nazareth Soares, Mariângela Carneiro, David Soeiro Barbosa, Juliana Maria Trindade Bezerra
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2022
• Subjects: Dengue; Severe dengue; Death; Arbovirus infections; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0043-2022; https://doaj.org/article/c1336359c5df45df9541dc4bc209ec9c

ABSTRACT Background: Dengue is a public health problem in Brazil. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze factors associated with deaths from dengue in residents of the municipality of Contagem, Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the 2016 epidemic. Methods: To determine the factors associated with deaths due to dengue, we used a logistic regression model (univariate and multivariable) in which the response variable (outcome) was death due to dengue. Independent variables analyzed included demographic variables and those related to symptoms, treatment, hospitalization, testing, comorbidities, and case history. Results: The factors associated with dengue deaths in the final multivariable model [p < 0.05; 95% confidence interval (CI)] were age (OR = 1.07; 95%CI 1.03-1.11) and presence of bleeding (OR = 8.55; 95%CI 1.21-59.92). Conclusions: The results showed that age and the presence of bleeding factors increased the risk of dengue death. These findings indicate that warning signs of dengue should be routinely monitored, and patients should be instructed to seek medical attention when they occur. It is also emphasized that the parameters and epidemiological conditions of dengue patients need to be continuously investigated to avoid a fatal outcome.