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Risk of cardiovascular events associated with positive serology for Chagas: a systematic review

Bruno Linetzky1, Jonatan Konfino, Noelia Castellana

  • 1Fundación ECLA, Rosario, Argentina. brunolinetzky@yahoo.com.ar

International Journal of Epidemiology
|October 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Positive Chagas serology increases death risk in heart failure patients. However, evidence linking Chagas serology to cardiovascular events in asymptomatic individuals is limited.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Chagas disease disproportionately affects impoverished populations in Latin America.
  • This review examines the association between Chagas serology and cardiovascular event risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the independent risk of cardiovascular events in individuals with positive Chagas serology.
  • To synthesize evidence from existing studies on Chagas disease and cardiovascular outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted on Medline, Lilacs, and Embase databases.
  • Studies included were those comparing Chagas-positive individuals with a control group and a follow-up exceeding one year.
  • Outcomes of interest included death, stroke, heart failure, and left ventricular dysfunction.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria.
  • Positive Chagas serology was associated with an increased risk of death in patients with heart failure (functional class III/IV) and those with mild symptoms.
  • Limited evidence suggests a higher mortality risk in asymptomatic individuals with positive Chagas serology, particularly in older cohorts.

Conclusions:

  • Positive Chagas serology is linked to elevated mortality risk in heart failure patients.
  • There is insufficient evidence to establish a clear link between positive Chagas serology and cardiovascular events in asymptomatic subjects.
Abstract

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