Serum Cholesterol and Albumin Level in Dengue Fever: A Prospective Cross sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever is a major public health concern in  South and South-East Asia including Bangladesh. Inexpensive and available biochemical markers such as serum cholesterol and albumin levels  may address this issue. 

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the level of hypocholesterolaemia and hypoalbuminaemia in confirmed dengue patients and to compare serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL) and serum albumin between patients classified as Dengue without Warning Signs (DWOWS) and Dengue with Warning Signs (DWS) and Severe Dengue (SD) in a Bangladeshi cohort.

Methods: A prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study enrolling 98 consecutive patients with confirmed dengue fever from admitted patients of the  Medicine Ward of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, between July and September 2025 was done. Serum total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and albumin were assayed within 48 hours of admission.

Results: Of 98 enrolled patients (mean age 33.60 ± 15.10 years; 67.0% male), 42 (43.3%) were classified as DWOWS, 54 (55.7%) as DWS, and 1 (1.0%) as Severe Dengue (SD). Hypocholesterolaemia (<150 mg/dL) was present in 64 patients (66.0%). Mean total cholesterol was comparable between DWOWS and DWS (143.2 ± 33.9 vs 135.3 ± 48.4 mg/dL; p = 0.223). LDL cholesterol was significantly lower in DWS than DWOWS (93.7 ± 30.0 mg/dL vs 108.3 ± 21.1 ; p = 0.018) consistent with greater plasma leakage. Hypoalbuminaemia (<3.5 g/dL) was present in 51 patients (52.6%); mean albumin was significantly lower in DWS (3.39 ± 0.44 g/dL; p < 0.001 ) than DWOWS (3.58 ± 0.23 g/dL ), consistent with greater plasma leakage in DWS. A moderate positive association was found between total cholesterol and serum albumin (Spearman’s  rho = 0.369; Pearson r = 0.460; both p < 0.001).

Conclusion:  Despite small sample size, our study suggest that hypocholesterolaemia was prevalent in two-thirds of the enrolled patients. Serum albumin was significantly lower in DWS than DWOWS. So, these inexpensive, routinely available markers may aid early risk stratification in our resource-limited setting. Larger studies with more severe cases are recommended.

Bangladesh J Medicine 2026; Vol. 37, No. 2(1): pp. 240.