Platelet count and platelet indices as predictor of severity of dengue fever: A cross-sectional study

Background: Dengue fever is a rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral illness with a wide clinical spectrum ranging from mild febrile illness to severe dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Early prediction of disease severity is crucial for timely management and improved patient outcomes. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the role of platelet count and platelet indices—mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT)—as reliable predictors of dengue fever severity. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over one year at a tertiary care hospital, including 500 dengue-positive patients confirmed by serological testing. Patients were categorized into three groups based on platelet count (<20,000/mm³, 20,000–100,000/mm³, and 100,001–150,000/mm³). Platelet indices were measured using an automated hematology analyzer (SYSMEX XN-550). Clinical features were correlated with platelet parameters to assess their prognostic value. Results: The study found significant correlations between decreased platelet counts and increased severity of dengue fever. MPV and PDW showed inverse and direct relationships respectively with platelet counts, indicating their utility as markers of platelet activation and disease progression. Lower plateletcrit values were observed in patients with severe thrombocytopenia. These platelet indices demonstrated potential as early predictors of disease severity and bleeding risk in dengue patients. Conclusion: Platelet count along with platelet indices such as MPV, PDW, and PCT are valuable prognostic markers for assessing the severity of dengue fever. Incorporating these parameters into routine clinical evaluation can aid in early identification of patients at risk for severe disease and guide appropriate management strategies.