Morbidade da doença de Chagas: III. Estudo longitudinal, de seis anos, em Virgem da Lapa, MG, Brasil

Abstract

In a clinical, radiological and electrocardiographical, follow-up study of the "case control" type performed in Virgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, 124 chagasic patients were followed during six years. The results of the patients, the majority in the indeterminate form, did not register any change, in 32.2% there was a progress in the disease and in 5.6% the electrocardiogram returned to normal. These results when compared to that achieved by the control group, composed of pairs of non chagasic persons with the same age and sex, was shown to be 27.4% higher than among patients with positive serology. This factor represents the excess risk or exclusively chagasic component in the development of the disease. No differences were observed by sex related to the development of the disease. It was more premature and seven times more frequent however when related to the cardiopathy than to the megaesophagus. Both conditions occurring mainly in slight or moderate degree. In 192 chagasic patients and 188 non chagasic persons observed in that area in the same period, the mortality was 3.6 times higher among the chagasic patients with a letality due to cardiopathy of 8.9% without difference between sexes but more premature among the males. Sudden death was more frequent than that one caused by cardiac insufficiency. The prognostic was good for the patients with indeterminate and digestive forms and reserved for patients with the highest degree of cardiopathy.

Chagas' heart disease: evolutive evaluation of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters in patients with the indeterminate form

“…Although longitudinal follow-up studies have demonstrated the development of electrocardiographic changes in some 6,7 , these changes do not seem to modify the prognosis. As a result, survival in this group of patients appears comparable to that of the general population 3,[8][9][10][11]. The reason for the lack of a detectable impact of these ongoing electrocardiographic changes on patient prognosis (i.e.…”

Predictive value of clinical and electrophysiological variables in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia

“…Induction of VF in these patients was considered a nonspecific response to programmed ventricular stimulation 61 . Clinical follow-up -Mortality rates in a heterogeneous population of chagasic patients ranged between 2.8 and 31.1% 54,57,[62][63][64][65][66] . In our study during a mean follow-up of 55.7 months 22 deaths (28.2 %) occurred.…”

Cardiac morbidity due to Chagas' disease in a rural community in Bolivia

“…complete right bundle branch block, cardiac failure, and sudden death (Moncavo, 1986). tUp to 30 % may present with ECG abnormalities in the chronic phase (Pereira et al 1985; Kawabata. 1987).…”