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Published on: June 15, 2020

Cardiomyopathy, adult valve disease and heart failure in South America

E A Bocchi1, G Guimarães, F Tarasoutshi

  • 1Heart Institute (InCor), São Paulo University Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. dcledimar@incor.usp.br

Heart (British Cardiac Society)
|November 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death in South America, with heart failure (HF) being a major reason for hospitalization. Public health strategies must address Chagas disease and rheumatic fever to reduce HF burden.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the primary cause of mortality in South America, impacting approximately 50% of the population.
  • Temporal trends and epidemiology of cardiomyopathies, adult valve disease, and heart failure (HF) require ongoing assessment for effective healthcare resource allocation and risk reduction strategies.
  • Cerebrovascular disease is the leading cause of death, followed by ischemic heart disease, other heart diseases, and hypertensive disease, with variations observed based on sex and race.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the epidemiology of cardiomyopathies, adult valve disease, and heart failure (HF) in South America.
  • To highlight the public health implications for resource allocation and risk reduction strategies.
  • To inform future predictions of cardiovascular disease burden in the region.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing epidemiological data on cardiovascular diseases in South America.
  • Analysis of mortality and hospitalization data related to specific cardiovascular conditions.
  • Identification of key etiological factors contributing to heart failure.

Main Results:

  • Diseases of the circulatory system are the predominant cause of death.
  • Cerebrovascular disease is the leading cause of death, particularly in women. Race influences cardiovascular mortality rates.
  • Heart failure (HF) is the primary cause for cardiovascular hospital admissions, with ischemic, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, valvular, hypertensive, and chagasic etiologies. Chagas' disease and rheumatic fever are significant contributors to HF and valvular heart disease, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • Heart failure and its associated etiologies account for 6.3% of all deaths.
  • Rheumatic fever is the leading cause of valvular heart disease.
  • Effective public health strategies in South America must incorporate control of Chagas' disease and rheumatic fever to mitigate the burden of heart failure and optimize healthcare resource allocation.

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