Risk Factors for Hospitalization and Transfusion Criteria in Patients With Dengue Virus Infection

Risk Factors for Hospitalization and Transfusion Criteria in Patients With Dengue Virus Infection: A Prospective Observational Study

This 3-year prospective observational study aims to identify clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with hospitalization in patients with confirmed dengue virus infection. It also seeks to analyze real-world transfusion practices and their outcomes. The study will be conducted in a second-level hospital in northern Mexico and will follow patients from emergency department entry to clinical resolution or hospital discharge.

This study will prospectively follow patients over 3 years to determine the relationship between clinical/laboratory variables and outcomes such as hospitalization and transfusion need. It seeks to improve understanding of real-world decision-making in transfusions for dengue-related thrombocytopenia and refine current hospitalization criteria based on locally observed predictors.

Patients will be enrolled consecutively at emergency departments or outpatient clinics with confirmed dengue infection. Clinical data (fever duration, bleeding signs, vomiting, abdominal pain, platelet count, hematocrit) and transfusion records will be collected and analyzed to identify independent predictors using multivariate logistic regression.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged ≥5 years
• Laboratory-confirmed dengue infection (NS1, IgM, or PCR)
• First contact at emergency or outpatient services
• Informed consent signed by the patient or legal guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

• Co-infection with other arboviruses or COVID-19
• Pre-existing hematologic or oncologic disease
• Refusal to sign informed consent