Dengue deaths: length of hospital stay, haematological parameters and presence of co-morbidities

OBJECTIVE: To review the characteristics of the patients who died from dengue in Trinidad to determine if there was any association between length of hospital stay, haematological parameters and ethnicity and any association with gender and the presence of co-morbidities. DESIGN AND METHODS: A descriptive study was undertaken via a review of case notes. Four major public hospitals were included in the study to locate patients who died from dengue between 2001 and 2010. RESULTS: The duration of hospital stay until death was characterised by a mode of 3 days and a median of 4 days. Eleven patients (47.8%) had a history of diabetes and 7 (30.4%) a history of hypertension recorded in the notes. A falling platelet count was observed in 69.5% of patients. A low normal haematocrit was observed in 78.2% of cases. Analyses did not reveal a significant association between length of hospital stay and platelet levels, nor with ethnicity; neither was a significant association found between gender and the presence of co- morbidities. CONCLUSION: Morbidity and mortality from dengue continue to pose a public health problem globally. Most patients had a history of diabetes with low platelets on admission, but low to normal haematocrit throughout their stay in hospital (mode 3 days). A prospective comparison study would better explore the significance of co- morbidities and the meaning of low to normal haematocrit levels.