Dengue survivors are at higher risk of long-term health problems than COVID-19 patients, study finds (Image credit: iStock)
Dengue and COVID-19 Dengue is a deadly disease that has wreaked havoc across the world. People who have recovered from both of these diseases still suffer from long-term health complications. However, a recent study conducted in Singapore reveals that people who have recovered from dengue face a higher risk of long-term health complications compared to those who have survived COVID-19. Research shows that dengue survivors are 55 percent more likely to suffer from heart problems, such as irregular heartbeat and blood clots, in the year after their initial infection compared to COVID-19 patients.
Dengue, a viral disease transmitted through mosquito bites, poses a different set of long-term risks compared to COVID-19, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The study, led by researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, also found that dengue patients are about 200 percent more likely to experience cognitive or memory problems, as well as movement disorders, compared to those who had COVID-19.
The study, published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, analyzed medical records and insurance claims from more than 11,700 dengue patients and more than 1.2 million COVID-19 patients. The research focused on new Health problems related to the heart, brain and immune system that emerged between one month and 300 days after the initial infection.
Lead author Lim Jue Tao, associate professor of infectious disease modelling at Nanyang Technological University, noted: “Dengue is one of the most common vector-borne diseases globally, and the long-term health problems resulting from dengue can significantly increase both individual healthcare burdens and national healthcare costs.”
This study is the first to specifically examine the long-term health risks associated with dengue and compare them to those following a COVID-19 infection. Previous research from the same team had suggested that both dengue and COVID-19 patients face higher risks of similar long-term health complications.
The results of the study reveal that among the patients studied, 0.9% of dengue patients and 0.5% of COVID-19 patients developed heart-related conditions. In addition, 0.3% of dengue patients and 0.1% of COVID-19 patients experienced cognitive and memory disorders, while 0.2% of dengue patients and 0.1% of COVID-19 patients developed movement-related problems.
Jue Tao emphasized the importance of this study for public health planning, stating: “Overall, our study underscores the need for people to protect themselves from dengue and can serve as a valuable resource for public health strategies.”
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