OBJECTIVES: Dengue infection is a health threat in some territories across the globe, however limited real-world data is available on its management in France. This study describes the healthcare resource use and associated costs of dengue fever requiring hospitalization in mainland France and the different French overseas territories.

METHODS: Retrospective study using the French National hospital database (PMSI), including patients with dengue hospitalizations occuring over 2015-2020. Descriptive analyses of patient characteristics, hospital stays and associated costs were performed within the overall population, by territories, and by age groups.

RESULTS: Overall, 5,978 patients were identified (median age 43 years, 48% male), accounting for 6,215 hospitalizations. Over 2015-2020, hospitalizations for dengue occurred mainly in French overseas territories (80.3%), although they seem to have increased both in mainland France (likely imported cases) and in all French overseas territories (likely endemic cases). In 2019-2020, a considerable increase of hospitalizations was observed in some territories (up to 4-fold for Reunion and Guadeloupe, up to 40-fold for Martinique). In 2020, hospitalization rate for dengue was higher in French overseas territories (230.5 stays per 100,000 people) than in mainland France (1.9 stays per 100,000 people) with a peak observed in adults aged >60 years in overseas territories (405 stays per 100,000 people). Overall, the median hospitalization duration was 4 days, 81% of patients were admitted in hospital via emergency rooms, and in-hospital death was observed in 1.4% of cases. Median cost per hospitalization was €1,848 and increased with age (€3,456 within >60 years).

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides recent real-world evidence on healthcare resource use and related costs of hospitalized dengue cases, since a latest study published in 2016. The economic burden increased over years and was higher in French overseas territories. Innovations in preventive treatment such as vaccination could reduce the economic burden of dengue fever disease.