Correlation of Leukocyte Count and Degree of Thrombocytopenia with Disease Severity in Patients with Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Hospitalized

Abstract

Dengue hemorrhagic fever remains a major health problem requiring appropriate clinical and hematological monitoring. Abnormal leukocyte and platelet counts are frequently observed in affected patients, but evidence regarding their correlations with disease severity remains inconsistent. To determine the correlations of leukocyte count and degree of thrombocytopenia with disease severity among patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever hospitalized at Waled Regional General Hospital in 2025. This observational analytic study used a retrospective cross-sectional design based on medical record data. A total of 204 patients were selected through consecutive sampling. Leukocyte and platelet counts were obtained from the first complete blood count at hospital admission, while disease severity was classified according to the 2009 WHO criteria. Bivariate analysis was performed using the Spearman rank correlation test.The largest age group was children aged 6–11 years, comprising 93 patients (45.6%), and most patients were male, comprising 107 patients (52.5%). Leukopenia was found in 90 patients (44.1%), moderate thrombocytopenia in 60 patients (29.4%), and dengue with warning signs in 115 patients (56.4%). No statistically significant correlation was found between leukocyte count and disease severity (r = 0.017, p = 0.809). A statistically significant weak positive correlation was found between the degree of thrombocytopenia and disease severity (r = 0.377, p < 0.001). Leukocyte count was not significantly correlated with disease severity, whereas the degree of thrombocytopenia showed a statistically significant weak positive correlation. Greater thrombocytopenia severity tended to be associated with greater disease severity.