Wazir Muahmmad Khan, Abidullah Khan, Faridullah Shah, Fakhar Zaman, Maimoona Ayub.
An epidemiological study of patients admitted with viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF): A single center experience.
Rawal Med J Jan ;42(4):479-83.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of dengue and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and to assess the impact of admission platelets on total hospital stay and final outcome. Methodology: This cross-sectional observational study included 300 patients with dengue and 11 patients with CCHF. Patient’s outcome was measured in terms of death or recovery and relationship between admission platelets and total hospital stay was assessed. Independent sample t-test and Chi square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: In dengue patients, the mean age was 30.60±9.70 years, against a mean age of 36.82±11.74 for CCHF. The mean hospital stay was shorter for dengue (5.7±0.83 days), than for CCHF (7.91±7.44 days). The mortality rate for dengue was much lower (2%), than that of CCHF (36%). In dengue patients, death was more prevalent in females [n=2 (8.7%), and Z=2.4], than in males [n=4 (1.4%), and Z=2.4], at a statistically significant level, Chi square (1) = 5.69, P =0.01, Phi=0.14. However, more men died of CCHF than females (p<0.05). Shock and coagulopathy were more common in CCHF than dengue. Moreover, increasing age increased mortality in both CCHF and dengue fever (p<0.05). Contrary to patient’s age, platelet count on admission did not influence the final outcome (p>0.05). Conclusion: Mortality from CCHF was much higher than that from dengue fever. Death from CCHF was commoner in males. However, dengue related deaths were commoner in females. Patient’s age, but not the initial platelet count worsens the final prognosis.

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