Legros et al identified risk factors associated with mortality
in patients with Plasmodium falciparum imported into France. These can help
identify patients who may require closer monitoring. The authors are from
multiple hospitals across France.
|
Risk Factor
|
Odds Ratio
|
|
parasitemia > 20%
|
117
|
|
platelet count < 10,000 per µL
|
89
|
|
platelet count 10,000 - 24,999 per µL
|
70
|
|
age > 60 years
|
35
|
|
parasitemia 10.1 - 20%
|
29
|
|
leukocyte count > 15,000 per µL
|
24
|
|
age 45 to 60 years
|
15
|
|
parasitemia 5.1 - 10%
|
12
|
|
platelet count 25,000 - 50,000 per µL
|
11
|
|
European origin
|
10
|
|
travel to East Africa
|
8
|
|
age 31 to 44 years
|
5
|
|
hemoglobin <= 8 g/dL
|
5
|
|
leukocyte count 10,001 to 15,000 per µL
|
5
|
|
delay in diagnosis 4 to 14 days
|
3
|
|
failure to use chemoprophylaxis
|
2
|
|
male gender
|
2
|