The Estimates of the Health and Economic Burden of Dengue in Vietnam

• Published in: Trends in parasitology Vol. 34; no. 10; pp. 904 - 918
• Main Authors: Hung, Trinh Manh, Clapham, Hannah E., Bettis, Alison A., Cuong, Hoang Quoc, Thwaites, Guy E., Wills, Bridget A., Boni, Maciej F., Turner, Hugo C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2018; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: cost of illness; DALYs; dengue; Dengue - economics; Dengue - epidemiology; economic burden; health burden; Humans; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Research - trends; Vietnam; Vietnam - epidemiology; Vietnam; Vietnam; health burden; cost of illness; DALYs; dengue; economic burden
• ISSN: 1471-4922; 1471-5007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.07.007

Dengue has been estimated to cause a substantial health and economic burden in Vietnam. The most recent studies have estimated that it is responsible for 39884 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) annually, representing an economic burden of US$94.87 million per year (in 2016 prices). However, there are alternative burden estimates that are notably lower. This variation is predominantly due to differences in how the number of symptomatic dengue cases is estimated. Understanding the methodology of these burden calculations is vital when interpreting health economic analyses of dengue. This review aims to provide an overview of the health and economic burden estimates of dengue in Vietnam. We also highlight important research gaps for future studies. The estimates of the total number of symptomatic dengue cases occurring annually in Vietnam have increased significantly over time, largely due to changes in the methodology used to adjust for underreporting. The estimates of the total health and economic burden of dengue vary significantly, mainly due to differences in the estimated annual incidence of symptomatic dengue cases. The DALY calculation for dengue has changed significantly over the last decade. Without understanding the methodology used to estimate the health and economic burden of dengue, it is not possible to critically examine health economic analysis of dengue interventions.