Epidemiological features, echocardiographic findings, and parasite load in patients with Chagas disease
Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop
; Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop;52: e20180541, 2019. tab
Article
in En
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| ID: biblio-1057254
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Abstract INTRODUCTION Chagas disease is a major public health problem that is endemic in Brazil and Latin America. This study aimed to determine the socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical characteristics of 171 patients (mean age, 45 years; female, 65%) with Chagas disease at Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. METHODS We implemented this cross-sectional study using a clinical epidemiological questionnaire, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and quantitative detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in blood using qRT-PCR. RESULTS Among the patients, 26.3% had a full elementary education, and 13.2% were illiterate. Most (63.6%) were economically classified as class C, and 51.5% were born in Bahia state. A total of 62.0% participants reported previous contact with the triatomine bug. The clinical forms of the disease were indeterminate (69.51%), cardiac (15.24%), digestive (10.37%), and mixed (4.88%). The most common electrocardiographic abnormality was complete right bundle branch block in association with a divisional anterosuperior block. Only 14.6% of the patients complied with benznidazole medication for at least 60 days, and 164 of them were assessed by echocardiography. The parasite load was positive in 56% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS:
Chagas disease affected mostly women, with the indeterminate chronic form of the disease.Key words
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS
Main subject:
Trypanosoma cruzi
/
Chagas Disease
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Journal:
Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop
Journal subject:
MEDICINA TROPICAL
Year:
2019
Type:
Article