[Chagas disease in a low-income setting in the surrounding area of Buenos Aires]

La Matanza district, located in the western zone of Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, has a population of 1837774, with a high proportion of migrants from regions endemic for Chagas disease (CD). Our hospital serves as the local referral center and reactivated a dedicated CD outpatient clinic in October 2023. The objectives of this study were to describe the collected data, characterize the patient population, identify the available epidemiological information, and assess the initial response to follow-up and adherence to trypanocidal therapy.

We conducted an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study of 61 patients evaluated between October 2023 and May 2024.

The study revealed a relatively high mean age and a high prevalence of Chagas-related cardiomyopathy, resulting in a majority of patients being ineligible for treatment compared to those who qualified. Attempts to obtain official epidemiological data on CD in the district were unsuccessful, highlighting a substantial degree of underreporting. Approximately 35% (21) of patients were lost to follow-up, although all prescribed treatments were completed successfully.

This study underscores the delayed suspicion and diagnosis of CD, as well as the absence of epidemiological data in a densely populated and highly migratory area. These findings reinforce the need to establish integrated services for comprehensive management of CD, decentralize care delivery, and promote the foundational principles of Chagas care: consider CD, diagnose CD, and treat CD.