• A recent large-scale study conducted in Singapore, published in Clinical Microbiology and Infection, highlights the serious long-term health risks faced by adults after dengue infection. Tracking 55,870 adult dengue patients from 2017 to 2023 and comparing them with over 3.1 million controls, researchers found a significantly elevated risk of death, hospitalization, and multi-organ complications well beyond the acute phase of illness.

• Dengue survivors had a two-fold higher risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.08) and a 22% increased risk of all-cause hospitalization. The risk of developing multi-organ complications rose by 19%, affecting critical systems:

  • Cardiovascular: aHR 1.46, including heart attacks, arrhythmias, and ischemic disease

  • Neurological/Psychiatric: aHR 1.29, with cognitive decline, stress, and anxiety disorders

  • Gastrointestinal: aHR 1.42, notably gastritis and a 3.66-fold increase in hepatitis/cirrhosis

  • Renal: aHR 2.30, indicating a major rise in kidney disorders

  • Autoimmune/Endocrine: aHR 1.37 and 1.19, respectively, with a 2.43-fold increase in connective tissue diseases

• Both hospitalized and non-hospitalized dengue patients were affected, with older adults (≥61 years), males, and those with pre-existing conditions or infection by DENV-2 or DENV-3 serotypes being more vulnerable.

• The findings signify the urgent need for long-term post-dengue monitoring and multidisciplinary care strategies to detect and manage chronic health impacts. As global dengue incidence rises, this research stresses that recovery from acute infection does not signal the end of health risks.

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