Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in Thailand

Abstract Dengue fever poses a significant public health burden in tropical regions, including Thailand, where periodic epidemics strain healthcare resources. Effective disease surveillance is essential for timely intervention and resource allocation. Various methods exist for spatiotemporal cluster...

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Main Authors: Chawarat Rotejanaprasert, Kawin Chinpong, Andrew B. Lawson, Richard J. Maude
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82212-1
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author Chawarat Rotejanaprasert
Kawin Chinpong
Andrew B. Lawson
Richard J. Maude
author_facet Chawarat Rotejanaprasert
Kawin Chinpong
Andrew B. Lawson
Richard J. Maude
author_sort Chawarat Rotejanaprasert
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Dengue fever poses a significant public health burden in tropical regions, including Thailand, where periodic epidemics strain healthcare resources. Effective disease surveillance is essential for timely intervention and resource allocation. Various methods exist for spatiotemporal cluster detection, but their comparative performance remains unclear. This study compared spatiotemporal cluster detection methods using simulated and real dengue surveillance data from Thailand. A simulation study explored diverse disease scenarios, characterized by varying magnitudes and spatial-temporal patterns, while real data analysis utilized monthly national dengue surveillance data from 2018 to 2020. Evaluation metrics included accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Bayesian models and FlexScan emerged as top performers, demonstrating superior accuracy and sensitivity. Traditional methods such as Getis Ord and Moran’s I showed poorer performance, while other scanning-based approaches like spatial SaTScan exhibited limitations in positive predictive value and tended to identify large clusters due to the inflexibility of its scanning window shape. Bayesian modeling with a space–time interaction term outperformed testing-based cluster detection methods, emphasizing the importance of incorporating spatiotemporal components. Our study highlights the superior performance of Bayesian models and FlexScan in spatiotemporal cluster detection for dengue surveillance. These findings offer valuable guidance for policymakers and public health authorities in refining disease surveillance strategies and resource allocation. Moreover, the insights gained from this research could be valuable for other diseases sharing similar characteristics and settings, broadening the applicability of our findings beyond dengue surveillance.
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spelling doaj-art-a7e9b47f6e254d54a009e19e712591162025-08-20T02:39:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111610.1038/s41598-024-82212-1Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in ThailandChawarat Rotejanaprasert0Kawin Chinpong1Andrew B. Lawson2Richard J. Maude3Department of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityChulabhorn Learning and Research Centre, Chulabhorn Royal AcademyDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South CarolinaMahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol UniversityAbstract Dengue fever poses a significant public health burden in tropical regions, including Thailand, where periodic epidemics strain healthcare resources. Effective disease surveillance is essential for timely intervention and resource allocation. Various methods exist for spatiotemporal cluster detection, but their comparative performance remains unclear. This study compared spatiotemporal cluster detection methods using simulated and real dengue surveillance data from Thailand. A simulation study explored diverse disease scenarios, characterized by varying magnitudes and spatial-temporal patterns, while real data analysis utilized monthly national dengue surveillance data from 2018 to 2020. Evaluation metrics included accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Bayesian models and FlexScan emerged as top performers, demonstrating superior accuracy and sensitivity. Traditional methods such as Getis Ord and Moran’s I showed poorer performance, while other scanning-based approaches like spatial SaTScan exhibited limitations in positive predictive value and tended to identify large clusters due to the inflexibility of its scanning window shape. Bayesian modeling with a space–time interaction term outperformed testing-based cluster detection methods, emphasizing the importance of incorporating spatiotemporal components. Our study highlights the superior performance of Bayesian models and FlexScan in spatiotemporal cluster detection for dengue surveillance. These findings offer valuable guidance for policymakers and public health authorities in refining disease surveillance strategies and resource allocation. Moreover, the insights gained from this research could be valuable for other diseases sharing similar characteristics and settings, broadening the applicability of our findings beyond dengue surveillance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82212-1SpatiotemporalCluster detectionDengueSurveillanceThailand
spellingShingle Chawarat Rotejanaprasert
Kawin Chinpong
Andrew B. Lawson
Richard J. Maude
Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in Thailand
Scientific Reports
Spatiotemporal
Cluster detection
Dengue
Surveillance
Thailand
title Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in Thailand
title_full Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in Thailand
title_fullStr Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in Thailand
title_full_unstemmed Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in Thailand
title_short Comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in Thailand
title_sort comparative evaluation of spatiotemporal methods for effective dengue cluster detection with a case study of national surveillance data in thailand
topic Spatiotemporal
Cluster detection
Dengue
Surveillance
Thailand
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82212-1
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