DENGUE FEVER;

AN AUDIT OF RISK FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS REPORTING AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN HYDERABAD

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever & its complications have become a nightmare for
common people in Asian countries including Pakistan. Besides environmental factors
responsible for its transmission, there are many host factors too involved in its rapid spread.
Objective: To assess risk factors for dengue fever among patients reporting at Liaquat University
Hospital (LUH) Hyderabad. Study Design, Setting & Study duration: Descriptive cross
sectional study was conducted at LUH, Hyderabad for six months i.e. from 15th May 2013 to 15th
November 2013. Methods: 481 patients were registered through convenient sampling after
informed verbal consent. Patients’ demographic features, clinical presentations & laboratory
reports were collected on a preformed proforma. Results: The reporting rate for dengue fever
was 18.5% & the mean age of presentation was 28.5 ± 3.5 years. Males were in majority (72.55%)
3 & the average days of admission were 4.5 days; low platelets count (< 50,000/mm ) was
recorded in 72% of cases; however 11.64% patients presented with hemorrhagic tendency. Age
was strongly associated with thrombocytopenia (p=0.04) & with occurrence of hemorrhage
(p=0.03) in both genders; this association was more evident among males (p=0.01). However
among uncomplicated cases no association was evident between gender & length of stay in
(p=0.35). Conclusions: The alarmingly higher reporting rate of dengue fever necessitates
contextual preventive interventions. As younger age & male gender are the major risk factors for
this disease; therefore age-specific & gender-specific preventive strategies against this disease
are recommended.