P-23 The Dengue COVID Syndemic in the Caribbean
Author(s):
Tracy Evans-Gilbert , Lee, Shu Xian , Melanie Fisher , Gabriel Gonzalez-Escobar
Type Of Study:
- Experimental or Intervention Study
Country(ies) Of Focus:
- CARPHA Member States
- CARICOM Countries
Year of Presentation:
2022
Objective: Similarities in clinical, laboratory, and cytokine responses have been demonstrated in Dengue Fever and COVID-19 diseases. This study aims to determine a geographical correlation between COVID-19 mortality and the prevalence of dengue fever.
Design and Methods: This is a geographical ecological study among 16 Caribbean islands. Using secondary online data sources, we compared COVID-19 and dengue mortality, with dengue incidence rates among Caribbean islands. To minimize the impact of vaccination on outcomes, data from 2020 was used. The percentage of the population > 65 years, income level, hospital beds/1000 people, physicians /1000 people, and nurses/1000 people were assessed for correlations with mortality outcomes. Pearson correlations were calculated using SPSS version 20
Results: Demographic, health system indicators, and COVID-19 mortality varied among islands with the widest disparity in dengue incidence rates. Dengue mortality and dengue incidence rate were found to be moderately positively correlated, r(14) = .528 , p = .036. There was no correlation with dengue incidence rate and COVID mortality, r(14) = .1, p = .713. COVID-19 and dengue mortality were not associated with percentage population > 65 years or health system indicators
Conclusion: There was no ecological link in islands with high dengue incidence rates and COVID mortality. Dengue mortality correlated with high dengue incidence rates. This study did not demonstrate disease synergism. Further evaluation of cases of dengue COVID coinfections can provide additional insight into the dengue COVID-19 syndemic. A high index of suspicion should be maintained in dengueendemic countries to avert delayed diagnoses.