HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION OF MEDICALLY ATTENDED DENGUE IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN PUERTO RICO FROM 2019 TO 2025: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
Author(s)
Claudia C. Beltran, MSc, MD1, Juan C. Orengo, MPH, PhD, MD2, Yemile Ron, MD3, Sebastian Medina, MD4, Maria A. Betancur, MD5, Veronica M. Frasqueri-Quintana, MPH6, Vanessa Rivera Amill, PhD7, Rachel M. Rodriguez, MD8;
1Merck Sharp & Dohme International Service B.V., Outcomes Research Manager Cluster North, Bogota, Colombia, 2MSD (IA) LLC, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Research Management lead, Coamo, Puerto Rico, 3Merck, Carolina, Puerto Rico, 4MSD, Bogota, Puerto Rico, 5MSD Colombia, Bogota, Colombia, 6Ponce University, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 7Ponce Medical School Foundation, Inc., Ponce, Puerto Rico, 8Ponce Health Sciences University, Yauco, PR, USA
1Merck Sharp & Dohme International Service B.V., Outcomes Research Manager Cluster North, Bogota, Colombia, 2MSD (IA) LLC, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Research Management lead, Coamo, Puerto Rico, 3Merck, Carolina, Puerto Rico, 4MSD, Bogota, Puerto Rico, 5MSD Colombia, Bogota, Colombia, 6Ponce University, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 7Ponce Medical School Foundation, Inc., Ponce, Puerto Rico, 8Ponce Health Sciences University, Yauco, PR, USA
OBJECTIVES: 1. To describe the demographic characteristics of medically attended dengue patients for laboratory confirmed in Puerto Rico from 2019 to 2025. 2. Evaluate where the patient is referred once diagnosed.
METHODS: This preliminary analysis is based on a retrospective, observational study using structured secondary data from the Sentinel Enhanced Dengue Surveillance System (SEDSS) and electronic medical record (EMR) chart review from Centro Médico Episcopal San Lucas and the Centro de Emergencia y Medicina Integrada in Ponce, Puerto Rico (population coverage ≈500,000). Eligible participants included PCR-confirmed dengue cases with documented clinical management. Standardized abstraction forms were used to collect demographic characteristics, level of care (emergency, outpatient, inpatient), laboratory test results, clinical evaluations, treatments, procedures, and associated costs.
RESULTS: We reviewed 157 dengue cases; 54.8% were male (n=86) and 45.2% female (n=71), with a mean age of 24.9 years (SD=16.9). Most patients (58%, n=91) were younger than 21 years, followed by those aged 21-39 years (21%, n=33) and ≥40 years (21%, n=33). Cases were reported across 18 municipalities. DENV-3 was the predominant serotype (61%), with DENV-2 and DENV-1 representing 23% and 13% of cases, respectively. Most patients (75%) were discharged home, 24% required hospitalization, and 1% were transferred.
CONCLUSIONS: Dengue cases occurred across a wide age range, with the highest burden among individuals <21 years, underscoring continued transmission among children and adolescents. Adult infections—highlight that risk extends beyond pediatric groups. Absence of DENV-4 suggests ongoing serotype-specific circulation patterns during the study period. Most patients were managed in outpatient settings, consistent with predominantly mild-moderate disease; however, the 24% hospitalization rate indicates a substantial proportion requiring closer monitoring for warning signs or complications.
METHODS: This preliminary analysis is based on a retrospective, observational study using structured secondary data from the Sentinel Enhanced Dengue Surveillance System (SEDSS) and electronic medical record (EMR) chart review from Centro Médico Episcopal San Lucas and the Centro de Emergencia y Medicina Integrada in Ponce, Puerto Rico (population coverage ≈500,000). Eligible participants included PCR-confirmed dengue cases with documented clinical management. Standardized abstraction forms were used to collect demographic characteristics, level of care (emergency, outpatient, inpatient), laboratory test results, clinical evaluations, treatments, procedures, and associated costs.
RESULTS: We reviewed 157 dengue cases; 54.8% were male (n=86) and 45.2% female (n=71), with a mean age of 24.9 years (SD=16.9). Most patients (58%, n=91) were younger than 21 years, followed by those aged 21-39 years (21%, n=33) and ≥40 years (21%, n=33). Cases were reported across 18 municipalities. DENV-3 was the predominant serotype (61%), with DENV-2 and DENV-1 representing 23% and 13% of cases, respectively. Most patients (75%) were discharged home, 24% required hospitalization, and 1% were transferred.
CONCLUSIONS: Dengue cases occurred across a wide age range, with the highest burden among individuals <21 years, underscoring continued transmission among children and adolescents. Adult infections—highlight that risk extends beyond pediatric groups. Absence of DENV-4 suggests ongoing serotype-specific circulation patterns during the study period. Most patients were managed in outpatient settings, consistent with predominantly mild-moderate disease; however, the 24% hospitalization rate indicates a substantial proportion requiring closer monitoring for warning signs or complications.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH82
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, STA: Vaccines