Clinical and laboratory characteristics of severe dengue and its comorbidities in Dhaka: a case–control study
12 affiliations
- 1Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
- 2Department of Social Work, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
- 3Department of Statistics, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, United States.
- 4Department of Biostatistics, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States.
- 5College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States.
- 6Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- 7Department of Aquaculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
- 8Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- 9Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- 10Research Division, Platform Doctors Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- 11Advanced Molecular Lab, Department of Microbiology, President Abdul Hamid Medical College, Kishoreganj, Bangladesh.
- 12COVID-19 Diagnostic lab, Department of Microbiology, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh.
Abstract
Background: The prevalence of dengue in Bangladesh has markedly risen, resulting in the most lethal epidemic in 2023 and persistently elevated levels in 2024. Regardless of stringent control measures, dengue persists with comorbidities in Dhaka City. This research explored the correlation between laboratory findings and clinical parameters with severe dengue infection.
Methods: A case–control study was performed on 435 dengue patients (145 cases with severe dengue and 290 controls with non-severe dengue) hospitalized in medical college hospitals in Dhaka City from July to December 2024. Participants were matched by age (±5 years), sex, and admission date (±2 weeks). Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to find out factors associated with dengue severity.
Results: Comorbidities, such as chronic pulmonary disease (AOR: 2.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90–5.10), were associated with an increased odds of severe dengue. Symptoms such as abdominal pain (AOR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.45–3.68), lethargy (AOR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.35–5.47), and nausea (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.15–4.22) were associated with increased dengue infection severity. Severe dengue cases exhibited an elevation in serum creatinine, ALT, AST, and pulse rate, but total bilirubin, albumin, and globulin levels were associated with a reduced odds of severity.
Conclusion: This study delineates characteristics associated with severe dengue infection, including comorbidities, such as chronic pulmonary disease, and signs and symptoms, such as abdominal pain, lethargy, and nausea. Laboratory results indicating higher serum creatinine, liver enzymes, and pulse rate, coupled with decreased total bilirubin, albumin, and globulin, were significantly associated with severity. These findings emphasize the significance of early surveillance, especially in patients with comorbidities, and offer critical insights for enhancing the management of severe dengue. Future studies should investigate the transition from non-severe to severe dengue.
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BibTeX
@article{hasan2026clinical,
title = {{Clinical and laboratory characteristics of severe dengue and its comorbidities in Dhaka: a case–control study}},
author = {Mohammad Nayeem Hasan and Mahfujur Rahman Himel and Shakera Begum and Farjana Jahan and Sultana Akter and Raisul Islam and Kanis Fatama Ferdushi and Iffat Jahan Ivy and Mahmuda Afrin and Jubayer Mumin and Md Aminul Islam},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1944846},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1944846/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Clinical and laboratory characteristics of severe dengue and its comorbidities in Dhaka: a case–control study
AU - Mohammad Nayeem Hasan
AU - Mahfujur Rahman Himel
AU - Shakera Begum
AU - Farjana Jahan
AU - Sultana Akter
AU - Raisul Islam
AU - Kanis Fatama Ferdushi
AU - Iffat Jahan Ivy
AU - Mahmuda Afrin
AU - Jubayer Mumin
AU - Md Aminul Islam
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1944846
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1944846/full
AB - Background: The prevalence of dengue in Bangladesh has markedly risen, resulting in the most lethal epidemic in 2023 and persistently elevated levels in 2024. Regardless of stringent control measures, dengue persists with comorbidities in Dhaka City. This research explored the correlation between laboratory findings and clinical parameters with severe dengue infection. Methods: A case–control study was performed on 435 dengue patients (145 cases with severe dengue and 290 controls with non-severe dengue) hospitalized in medical college hospitals in Dhaka City from July to December 2024. Participants were matched by age (±5 years), sex, and admission date (±2 weeks). Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to find out factors associated with dengue severity. Results: Comorbidities, such as chronic pulmonary disease (AOR: 2.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90–5.10), were associated with an increased odds of severe dengue. Symptoms such as abdominal pain (AOR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.45–3.68), lethargy (AOR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.35–5.47), and nausea (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.15–4.22) were associated with increased dengue infection severity. Severe dengue cases exhibited an elevation in serum creatinine, ALT, AST, and pulse rate, but total bilirubin, albumin, and globulin levels were associated with a reduced odds of severity. Conclusion: This study delineates characteristics associated with severe dengue infection, including comorbidities, such as chronic pulmonary disease, and signs and symptoms, such as abdominal pain, lethargy, and nausea. Laboratory results indicating higher serum creatinine, liver enzymes, and pulse rate, coupled with decreased total bilirubin, albumin, and globulin, were significantly associated with severity. These findings emphasize the significance of early surveillance, especially in patients with comorbidities, and offer critical insights for enhancing the management of severe dengue. Future studies should investigate the transition from non-severe to severe dengue.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -