Is the recent increment in attributable deaths to type-2 diabetes (T2D) associated with the latest chikungunya outbreak in a major epidemic area in Brazil?

INTRODUCTION: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) can negatively influence outcomes in patients with pre-existing conditions. We investigated the association between the recent CHIKV outbreak and increased type 2 diabetes (T2D)-attributable deaths.

METHODS: Monthly averages of T2D-attributable deaths between 2001 and 2016 were determined and compared to the equivalent data for 2017 and the recent CHIKV outbreak.

RESULTS: CHKV outbreak peaked in April 2017 with 4,394.4 cases/100,000 inhabitants, while T2D-attributable deaths in the same period increased by 35.2%.

CONCLUSIONS: T2D-attributable deaths significantly increased compared to the previous data, which overlapped with CHIKV incidence. The pathophysiology of this association warrants further investigations.