Clinical characteristics and national economic cost of the 2005 dengue epidemic in Panama.
In 2005, Panama experienced the largest dengue epidemic since 1993. We conducted both a prospective clinical and a national economic study. The full cost analysis measured costs of dengue cases and of dengue control efforts in the entire country. Costs are in 2005 US$. Ambulatory patients were 130 of the 136 participants, with 82% adults (18+) and 62% women. Duration of fever and illness averaged 6.1 (standard deviation [SD], 5.3) and 21.2 (SD 13.5) days, respectively. Loss in quality of life averaged 67% (SD 21) during the worst days of illness. An average ambulatory and hospitalized case cost $332 and $1,065, respectively. Although 5,489 cases were officially reported, the Ministry of Health (MOH) estimated 32,900 actual cases, implying a total cost of $11.8 million. Additionally, estimated government spending on dengue control efforts was $5 million. This dengue epidemic had a major disease impact and an economic cost of $16.9 million ($5.22 per capita).
Armien
Blas
B
Department of Genomics and Proteomics, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudio de la Salud, Panamá. barmien@gorgas.gob.pa
Suaya
Jose A
JA
Quiroz
Evelia
E
Sah
Binod K
BK
Bayard
Vicente
V
Marchena
Loyd
L
Campos
Cornelio
C
Shepard
Donald S
DS
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003715:Dengue / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies