Analysis of Dengue-Related Deaths in Colombia During the 2024 Outbreak

Abstract

Background: Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by vectors, mainly by Aedes mosquitoes. Objective: To analyze dengue-related deaths in Colombia during the 2024 outbreak. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, and retrospective study. Secondary sources provided by Instituto Nacional de Salud de Colombia, were used. Absolute and relative frequencies with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for categorical variables, and measures of central tendency and dispersion were computed for quantitative variables. Results: In 2024, 284 confirmed dengue-related deaths were recorded in Colombia, with a higher predominance in females during the adult stage; the department with the highest number of deaths was Valle del Cauca. The departments of Guainía (0.35), La Guajira, and Putumayo (0.26) showing the highest case fatality rates. Differences were identified among age groups: individuals aged 50 to 59 years showed the greatest delay in seeking care, with an average of 4.93 days (SD: 1.73), while children aged 1 to 4 years sought care more promptly, with an average of 2.9 days (SD: 2.5). Additionally, children under 1 year of age had the shortest mean interval between hospitalization and death, with only 1.8 days (SD: 0.7) . Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to strengthen surveillance actions, timely diagnosis, and the problem-solving capacity of health services, especially in vulnerable contexts and during periods of higher transmission.