PROGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF DIABETES IN DENGUE FEVER WITHPOLYSEROSITIS

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is well known to exacerbate infections both bacterial and viral but
its effect on the severity of viral infection has not been well studied. Presence of polyserositis is an
indicator of the severity of dengue virus infection. This study investigates the prognostic
significance of diabetes in dengue fever with polyserositis.
Methods: The study was conducted among 161 Dengue fever patients with polyserositis over a
period of 12 months as a case control study. Non diabetic patients having dengue fever with
polyserositis were taken as controls. We studied the impact of hyperglycaemia on the prognosis of
these patients.
Results: 49 percent of patients with diabetes had fasting plasma glucose greater than 200mg %.42
% of diabetic patients had elevated HbA1C.18.4% patients with uncontrolled diabetes developed
dengue shock syndrome when compared to 8.2% of controls. The mortality rate was 3.42%in
diabetic patients with polyserosits who developed Dengue shock syndrome when compared to
1.27% in controls.
Conclusion : Presence of hyperglycemia in diabetic dengue patients with polyserositis is associated
with a poorer outcome independent of the severity of other complications like thrombocytopenia.