[Dengue lethality and inequalities in the Region of the Americas between 2014 and 2023Letalidade da dengue e desigualdades na Região das Américas entre 2014 e 2023].

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the differences in the dengue case fatality rate among the different subregions of the Americas in the period 2014-2023 and explore their relationship with the human development index (HDI) in each subregion.

Methods: Longitudinal ecological study based on open-access data from each country, grouped into the corresponding subregions to calculate the different indicators. In addition, a linear regression was performed between the mean case fatality rate in each region and the weighted regional HDI.

Results: There are large differences in dengue lethality by subregion and considerable variability by year. These differences in lethality are not directly correlated with the incidence recorded in each region. The regional HDI shows a close relationship with lethality: a higher HDI is generally associated with a lower case fatality rate.

Conclusions: The observed differences in lethality and their relationship with subregional development levels indicate that a broad and multifactorial perspective should be taken when designing a dengue control strategy.