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Exploring the Chagas Disease-Stroke "Connection": Findings from a Large Multicenter Study.
Vinícius Viana Abreu Montanaro1, Gisele Sampaio Silva2, Jamary Oliveira Filho3
1SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurologia da Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brasília, Brazil.
Cerebrovascular Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 16, 2024
Summary
Chagas disease significantly increases stroke risk, with traditional factors like hypertension prevalent. Female gender and cardioembolic strokes are linked to recurrence, while anticoagulation shows protective effects.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Chagas disease is an emerging stroke risk factor in Latin America.
- Traditional stroke risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis) are also prevalent in Chagas patients.
- Understanding Chagas disease's role in stroke is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the largest cohort of patients with Chagas disease and ischemic stroke.
- To identify variables associated with stroke recurrence in this population.
- To determine factors linked to cardioembolic stroke etiology.
Main Methods:
- National multicenter cohort study in Brazil (2009-2016).
- Retrospective analysis of medical records of 499 patients with Chagas disease and stroke.
- Focus on vascular risk factors and epidemiological variables.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of traditional risk factors: 81% hypertension, 56% dyslipidemia, 25% diabetes.
- Stroke recurrence rate of 29.7%, particularly in the cardioembolic subgroup.
- Electrocardiography abnormalities increased cardioembolic risk 81-fold; female gender increased recurrence risk; anticoagulation reduced risk.
Conclusions:
- Chagas disease significantly impacts stroke epidemiology.
- Accurate etiological classification and management of risk factors are vital.
- Findings support improved patient care and reduced global burden of Chagas disease-related stroke.
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