Age-Specific Risks of Clinical Dengue
Author Information
Author(s): Thai Khoa T. D., Nishiura Hiroshi, Hoang Phuong Lan, Tran Nga Thanh Thi, Phan Giao Trong, Le Hung Quoc, Tran Binh Quang, Nguyen Nam Van, de Vries Peter J.
Primary Institution: Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hypothesis
This study aims to estimate the age-specific risks of clinical dengue attack during primary and secondary infections.
Conclusion
Higher age at DENV infection results in a higher risk of clinical attack.
Supporting Evidence
- The estimated proportion of symptomatic patients among the total number of infected individuals was below 7% for those aged younger than 10 years.
- The risk of symptomatic dengue during secondary infection is higher than during primary infection for all ages.
- Median age of dengue fever patients during primary infections was 12 years and 20 years during secondary infections.
Takeaway
Older kids and adults are more likely to get sick from dengue than younger kids.
Methodology
The study analyzed age-specific seroprevalence and clinical dengue attack data from a longitudinal study in Vietnam.
Potential Biases
Assumed that the force of infection is time- and age-independent, which may not reflect reality.
Limitations
The study may underestimate the risk of clinical attack as it did not capture asymptomatic infections.
Participant Demographics
The study included febrile patients from Binh Thuan province, Vietnam, with a median age of 20 years for secondary infections.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 10.8–12.7
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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