A multilevel study of dengue Epidemiology in Sri Lanka: modeling survival of dengue patients

Abstract

This paper focuses on exploring methods and analyzing the survival pattern of clustered dengue data reported from high risk areas in Sri Lanka during the period 2006 to 2009. Due to dengue cases being clustered within districts resulting in cluster correlation, the response of survival was modeled in a multilevel framework. As the data consists of several missing values this paper further investigates multilevel multiple imputation as a method to handle the partially observed dengue dataset appropriately. A Discrete Time Hazard Model via standard logistic model has been suggested to model the survival of dengue patients. Results indicate that there is an impact from the clustering variable, district and from different types of dengue infections, place treated initially, Packed Cell Volume and White Blood Cell count on the response of interest.