Abstract:
The objective of this study is to assess the correlation of body mass index (BMI) with primary dengue viral infection in urban and rural population of district Rawalpindi. Descriptive Cross Sectional Comparative Study. Microbiology Department, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Affiliated with Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC), Rawalpindi. It was carried out from 1st March 2010 to 30th September 2011. A Stratified random sampling was adopted for 240 (N) subjects residents of urban and rural areas of District Rawalpindi. Urban residents were 144(n) while rural ones were 96(n). The height in meter square and weight in kilogram (kg) were the parameters used to calculate BMI. A 3ml venous blood sample was drawn from each participant for the detection of IgG antibodies against dengue virus by 3rd generation ELISA (Enzyme linked Immunosorbant Assay). The prevalence of primary Dengue viral infection (DVI) for urban residents according to the current study is 34.7% (n=50 out of the total 144 subjects). While 19.7% prevalence of primary DVI (n=19 out of the total 96 subjects) was noted for the residents of Rural strata. The correlation of primary DVI with five categories of BMI amongst urban and rural residents is evaluated by applying chi square test. The p-Value was not found to be significant for any of the five categories of BMI either an urban or rural resident. There is no significant association of primary dengue viral infection with BMI of an individual.
