Study of Cardiac Manifestation in Patients with Seropositive Dengue Fever and to Find Correlation with Subclinical Cardiac Involvement

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of the present study was to observe the electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in dengue fever and to find correlation with subclinical cardiac involvement. Methods: This was an observational, prospective, non-randomized study. High grade fever for one to five days diagnosed as dengue infection later confirmed by dengue tests (NS1, IgG and IgM ELISA) were included in this study. Prior to the commencement of the study informed consent was taken from all the participants. With 12 lead ECG taken during the febrile phase of dengue fever randomly selected serologically confirmed cases of dengue fever were evaluated at an interval of 24 hrs. for a total of five days. On the day of admission when the patient was afebrile, echocardiography was done. Plasma leakage was diagnosed by presence of any one of four: subcutaneous oedema (pedal oedema, facial puffiness) or pleural effusion or pericardial effusion or ascites. Result: A total 80 patients who were admitted to hospital during study periods due to symptoms of dengue fever and IgM dengue positive status were included in this study. Among this total population of 80 patients (N=80) 48 were male and 32 were female. Out of these, majority were diagnosed as DF 52 (65%), 23 (29%) were diagnosed as DHF and rest only 5 (6%) were diagnosed as DSS. Total 54 patients were found to have normal ECG among which 35 were having dengue fever, 16 were having DHF and 3 were having DSS. Total 2 patients were diagnosed to have left ventricular hypertrophy among which one had dengue fever and rest two had DHF. ST depression was observed in total 7 patients in which 5 were had dengue fever and 2 were had DHF. Relative bradycardia was found in 14, tall t waves in 2 and ventricular ectopics in 1 patient (table 2). Abnormal ECG findings were compared using Chi-square test and were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) in dengue fever and DHF. There was statistically significant correlation between ECG abnormalities and abdominal pain and mucosal bleed. The presence of plasma leakage were observed among 77 (96.3%) patients. Proportion of echocardiography abnormalities were higher among patients with plasma leak 6 (30%) as compared to without plasma leak 9 (15%), this difference was not found to be statistically significant Conclusion: In all type of Dengue infections incidence of cardiac involvement was quite high. Due to the overlapping clinical manifestations such as capillary leak associated with DENV infection, tachycardia, pulmonary edema, and hypotension as well as due to the low index of clinical suspicion cardiac involvement in dengue fever is often underdiagnosed. Keywords: Cardiac manifestation, dengue infection, echocardiography, electrocardiography.