A trial in Vietnam is testing whether a low-cost wearable device developed at Imperial College London could spot early signs of severe dengue and help save thousands of lives each year.

The device, known as D-Scape (for dengue shock and classification prediction wearable), uses sensors and AI to monitor vital signs including blood pressure, blood oxygen levels and haematocrit, the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. These are key indicators of a plasma leak syndrome that occurs in some dengue infections and can be life-threatening.

The patented technology was developed at Imperial and is undergoing clinical validation in Vietnam to enable future commercialisation. It is supported by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Vietnam and the not-for-profit medical research organisation LifeArc.

The first phase of the trial will involve monitoring 25 dengue patients using the D-Scape device. This will gather crucial patient data and feedback on usability to help further develop the device and make it ready for the market. The final phase of the trial would then test this prototype with 100 dengue patients in intensive care units and other hospital settings.

This approach offers a practical alternative to traditional blood tests, which can be invasive and difficult to administer in busy or low-resource settings.

“Dengue is such an unpredictable disease, and it is very challenging to identify the patients who will develop severe dengue,” said Ho Quang Chanh, head of the dengue research group at OUCRU (www.oucru.org). “With there being no treatments, it means monitoring patients is so important. This is very difficult because currently we need to take constant blood samples which is not feasible during outbreaks or peak seasons, and it is very uncomfortable and risky for patients.”

D-Scape is designed to address this by supporting clinicians in making the timely decisions that could save lives.

“D-Scape is an AI-powered wearable that marks a breakthrough in dengue care,” said Pantelis Georgiou, a professor in Imperial’s Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering (www.imperial.ac.uk/electrical-engineering/). “It provides clinicians with non-invasive, continuous monitoring for haematocrit and blood pressure, reducing reliance on repeated blood tests.”

LifeArc is providing funding to support the development of second-and third-generation prototypes, testing of the tech in the clinic, and a health economic study to support future commercialisation and implementation.

“Wearable technology is rapidly becoming part of everyday life, and D-Scape takes this further, offering a non-invasive and more accessible monitoring method to predict severe dengue and ultimately save lives,” said Ghada Zoubiane, head of global health at LifeArc (www.lifearc.org).

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes and there are no effective treatments available. Currently, about half of the world’s population – four billion people – are at risk with up to 400 million people estimated to be infected each year. While most cases are mild, five per cent can become life-threatening with more than 9500 lives lost in 2024.

Dengue is endemic in many countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Vietnam, in particular, saw an outbreak of the disease in 2025 with a significant increase in the number of severe cases being reported.

But international trade, increased international travel and climate change are creating more favourable conditions for the dengue-carrying mosquito’s survival in other areas of the world. This has led to local outbreaks in France, including Paris, as well as Italy and Spain, with scientists expecting this mosquito species eventually to gain a foothold in the UK.

Imperial (www.imperial.ac.uk) holds a patent for the device and is currently working on commercialising it so it can be made available to patients worldwide. The final device will be reusable and is expected to cost under $500, significantly less than comparable technologies which can cost around $3000 and could be used in helping detect other life-threatening conditions such as antenatal sepsis.