title: Clinical characteristics and national economic cost of the 2005 dengue epidemic in Panama.
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Department of Genomics and Proteomics, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudio de la Salud, Panamá. barmien@gorgas.gob.pa
authors.forename: Blas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Armien
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Suaya
authors.forename: Evelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quiroz
authors.forename: Binod K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sah
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bayard
authors.forename: Loyd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marchena
authors.forename: Cornelio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Donald S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Shepard
mesh_terms: 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