Global Patterns of Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Dengue, 1990–2019: An Analysis Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Dengue is an important public health concern that warrants an examination of the longer-term global trends of its disease burden. The aim of this study was to assess the trends in dengue incidence and mortality worldwide over the last three decades. Materials and Methods: A descriptive epidemiological study was carried out, investigating the trends in the incidence and mortality of dengue from 1990 to 2019. The dengue incidence and mortality data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease study database. Trends were examined using joinpoint regression analysis. Results: Globally, there were 56.7 million new cases of dengue reported in 2019: the disease was diagnosed in 27.4 million males and 29.3 million females. A total of 36,055 (18,993 males and 17,032 females) related deaths were reported worldwide in 2019. In both sexes, about 60% of new cases were recorded in the South-East Asia region (16.3 million in males and 17.4 million in females). Globally, the incidence of dengue exhibited an increasing tendency from 1990 to 2019 in both sexes (equally, by 1.2% per year). A significantly decreasing trend in the mortality of dengue was recorded only in females (by −0.5% per year), while an increasing trend was observed in males (by +0.6% per year). Conclusions: The rise in the number of new dengue cases and deaths in the world in the last several decades suggests a need for implementing more effective prevention and management measures.