A study on length of stay and its predictors among dengue patients in a tertiary care institute in Lucknow

Abstract

Background: Dengue virus infection is a growing health problem and is prevalent throughout India. Research focusing on length of hospital stay and its predictors is scarce from India. This is important considering the burden of the disease during epidemics and impact on hospital admissions. Hence the study was conducted with the objectives to find out the factors influencing the length of stay in hospital of dengue patients.Methods: A cross sectional retrospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital from August 2016 to October 2016. Data was retrieved from case sheets at Medical Record Department of 350 lab confirmed adult dengue patients admitted in the hospital.Results: The majority of patients admitted were of economically productive age group of 18-45 years and males indicating the occupational exposure to the vector of dengue. The study found that majority had length of stay of less than a week and as age increases the length of stay also increases (statistically significant). The nil case fatality and lesser number of mean days of symptoms before admission possibly indicate that early arrival of patients to hospital can lead to very low fatality rates. Further research required to find out the other predictors of length of stay.Conclusions: The study concludes that the dengue affects the economically productive age group and more males thereby indicating occupational exposure to the vector. The age of the patient can be used as an indicator to the length of stay in the hospital.

Clinico-epidemiological features and outcome of dengue cases admitted in a tertiary care centre in Northern Kerala

“…In the present study the mean duration of hospital admission was 4.07±1.4 days which is comparable to a study done in Lucknow by Mishra et elsewhere it is 5.44±2.77 days. 16 In the present study fever (87.1%) was the common symptom. Body ache was reported in 50.4% of cases unlike in a study by George et al where 71% of the patients had body ache.…”

A study of morbidity and mortality markers in children diagnosed with severe dengue illness at a quaternary paediatric intensive care unit

“…SGOT value of more than 1000 IU/L indicates the severity of the disease along with morbidity and mortality. 7,9 Additionally, the study done by Mishra et al observed an elevation in SGOT levels in 47.4% of the cases studied.…”

“…The disease in India is prevalent in most metropolitan cities and towns, with frequent outbreaks of disease, and case fatality rates as high as 3-5%. 7 There is no specific antiviral therapy for dengue with the mainstay of therapy being supportive and symptomatic with intravenous fluids and electrolytes management. Hence, diagnosis and intervention with close monitoring can reduce the mortality to <1%.…”

“…However, mortality can reach as high as 30% if left untreated. 7 There are atypical forms of dengue infection such as hepatic dysfunction, raised total bilirubin, disseminated intravascular coagulation and electrolyte disturbances, having a profound effect on multiple organ systems; the commonest being the liver, starting from asymptomatic elevated transaminase levels to acute liver failure. 8 The median SGOT and SGPT level values are much higher for severe forms of disease and higher levels of SGOT are more common than that of SGPT, which differentiates from other forms of viral hepatitis.…”