Impact of an online course on enhancing the diagnosis of Chagas disease in Latin America.

Objective: Chagas disease poses a public health problem in Latin America, and the electrocardiogram is a crucial tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of this pathology. In this context, the aim of this study was to quantify the change in the ability to detect electrocardiographic patterns among healthcare professionals after completing a virtual course. Materials and Methods: An asynchronous virtual course with seven pre-recorded classes was conducted. Participants answered the same questionnaire at the beginning and end of the training. Based on these responses, pre and post-test results for each participant were compared. Results: The study included 1656 participants from 21 countries; 87.9% were physicians, 5.2% nurses, 4.1% technicians, and 2.8% medical students. Initially, 3.1% answered at least 50% of the pre-test questions correctly, a proportion that increased to 50.4% after the course (p=0.001). Regardless of their baseline characteristics, 82.1% of course attendees improved their answers after completing the course. Conclusions: The implementation of an asynchronous online course on electrocardiography in Chagas disease enhanced the skills of both medical and non-medical personnel to recognize this condition.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of mortality in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy versus other cardiomyopathies: higher risk or fiction?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although multiple studies suggest that chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) has higher mortality than other cardiomyopathies, the absence of meta-analyses supporting this perspective limits the possibility of generating robust conclusions. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the current evidence on mortality risk in CCC compared with that of other cardiomyopathies. METHODS: PubMed/Medline and EMBASE were searched for studies comparing mortality risk between patients with CCC and those with other cardiomyopathies, including in the latter nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), ischemic cardiomyopathy, and non-Chagas cardiomyopathy (nonCC). A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to combine the effects of the evaluated studies. RESULTS: A total of 37 studies evaluating 17 949 patients were included. Patients with CCC had a significantly higher mortality risk compared with patients with NICM (HR, 2.04; 95%CI, 1.60-2.60; I2, 47%; 8 studies) and non-CC (HR, 2.26; 95%CI, 1.65-3.10; I2, 71%; 11 studies), while no significant association was observed compared with patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (HR, 1.72; 95%CI, 0.80-3.66; I2, 69%; 4 studies) in the adjusted-measures meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CCC have an almost 2-fold increased mortality risk compared with individuals with heart failure secondary to other etiologies. This finding highlights the need for effective public policies and targeted research initiatives to optimally address the challenges of CCC.

The Effect of Omecamtiv Mecarbil in Hospitalized Patients as Compared With Outpatients With HFrEF: An Analysis of GALACTIC-HF.

BACKGROUND: In the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac Outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC-HF) trial, omecamtiv mecarbil, compared with placebo, reduced the risk of worsening heart failure (HF) events, or cardiovascular death in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction. The primary aim of this prespecified analysis was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of omecamtiv mecarbil by randomization setting, that is, whether participants were enrolled as outpatients or inpatients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were randomized either during a HF hospitalization or as an outpatient, within one year of a worsening HF event (hospitalization or emergency department visit). The primary outcome was a composite of worsening HF event (HF hospitalization or an urgent emergency department or clinic visit) or cardiovascular death. Of the 8232 patients analyzed, 2084 (25%) were hospitalized at randomization. Hospitalized patients had higher N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations, lower systolic blood pressure, reported more symptoms, and were less frequently treated with a renin-angiotensin system blocker or a beta-blocker than outpatients. The rate (per 100 person-years) of the primary outcome was higher in hospitalized patients (placebo group = 38.3/100 person-years) than in outpatients (23.1/100 person-years); adjusted hazard ratio 1.21 (95% confidence interval 1.12-1.31). The effect of omecamtiv mecarbil versus placebo on the primary outcome was similar in hospitalized patients (hazard ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.78-1.01) and outpatients (hazard ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.86-1.02) (interaction P = .51). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction had a higher rate of the primary outcome than outpatients. Omecamtiv mecarbil decreased the risk of the primary outcome both when initiated in hospitalized patients and in outpatients.

Prevalence of Neutralizing Antibodies against Adeno-Associated Virus Serotypes 1, 2, and 9 in Non-Injected Latin American Patients with Heart Failure-ANVIAS Study.

Neutralizing antibody (NAb) activity against the viral capsid of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors decreases transduction efficiency, thus limiting transgene expression. Several reports have mentioned a variation in NAb prevalence according to age, AAV serotype, and, most importantly, geographic location. There are currently no reports specifically describing the anti-AAV NAb prevalence in Latin America. Here, we describe the prevalence of NAb against different serotypes of AAV vectors (AAV1, AAV2, and AAV9) in Colombian patients with heart failure (HF) (referred to as cases) and healthy individuals (referred to as controls). The levels of NAb were evaluated in serum samples of 60 subjects from each group using an in vitro inhibitory assay. The neutralizing titer was reported as the first dilution inhibiting ≥50% of the transgene signal, and the samples with neutralizing titers at ≥1:50 dilution were considered positive. The prevalence of NAb in the case and control groups were similar (AAV2: 43% and 45%, respectively; AAV1 33.3% in each group; AAV9: 20% and 23.2%, respectively). The presence of NAb for two or more of the serotypes analyzed was observed in 25% of the studied samples, with the largest amount in the positive samples for AAV1 (55-75%) and AAV9 (93%), suggesting serial exposures, cross-reactivity, or coinfection. Moreover, patients in the HF group exhibited more common combined seropositivity for NAb against AAV1 d AAV9 than those in the control group (91.6% vs. 35.7%, respectively; p = 0.003). Finally, exposure to toxins was significantly associated with the presence of NAb in all regression models. These results constitute the first report of the prevalence of NAb against AAV in Latin America, being the first step to implementing therapeutic strategies based on AAV vectors in this population in our region.

Sacubitril/Valsartan and Frailty in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is an increasingly common problem, and frail patients are less likely to receive new pharmacologic therapies because the risk-benefit profile is perceived to be less favorable than in nonfrail patients. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan according to frailty status in 4,796 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction randomized in the PARAGON-HF (Prospective Comparison of ARNI With ARB Global Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial. METHODS: Frailty was measured by using the Rockwood cumulative deficit approach. The primary endpoint was total heart failure hospitalizations or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: A frailty index (FI) was calculable in 4,795 patients. In total, 45.2% had class 1 frailty (FI ≤0.210, not frail), 43.5% had class 2 frailty (FI 0.211-0.310, more frail), and 11.4% had class 3 frailty (FI ≥0.311, most frail). There was a graded relationship between FI class and the primary endpoint, with a significantly higher risk associated with greater frailty (class 1: reference; class 2 rate ratio: 2.19 [95% CI: 1.85-2.60]; class 3 rate ratio: 3.29 [95% CI: 2.65-4.09]). The effect of sacubitril/valsartan vs valsartan on the primary endpoint from lowest to highest FI class (as a rate ratio) was: 0.98 [95% CI: 0.76-1.27], 0.92 [95% CI: 0.76-1.12], and 0.69 [95% CI: 0.51-0.95]), respectively (Pinteraction = 0.23). When FI was examined as a continuous variable, the interaction with treatment was significant for the primary outcome (Pinteraction = 0.002) and total heart failure hospitalizations (Pinteraction < 0.001), with those most frail deriving greater benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty was common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and associated with worse outcomes. Compared with valsartan, sacubitril/valsartan seemed to show a greater reduction in the primary endpoint with increasing frailty, although this was not significant when FI was examined as a categorical variable. (Prospective Comparison of ARNI With ARB Global Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction [PARAGON-HF]; NCT01920711).

Global, Regional, and National Trends of Chagas Disease from 1990 to 2019: Comprehensive Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Background: Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease, endemic in Latin America, but due to migration and environmental changes it has become a global public health issue. Objectives: To assess the global prevalence and disability-adjusted life years due to CD using findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Methods: The Global Burden of Disease data was obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network; results were provided by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. The prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were described at a global, regional, and national level, including data from 1990 to 2019. Results: Globally, CD prevalence decreased by 11.3% during the study period, from 7,292,889 cases estimated in 1990 to 6,469,283 in 2019. Moreover, the global DALY rate of CD decreased by 23.7% during the evaluated period, from 360,872 in 1990 to 275,377 in 2019. In addition, significant differences in the burden by sex, being men the most affected, age, with the elderly having the highest burden of the disease, and sociodemographic index (SDI), with countries with the lowest SDI values having the highest prevalence of the disease, were observed. Finally, the prevalence trends have followed different patterns according to the region, with a sustained decrease in Latin America, compared to an increasing trend in North America and Europe until 2010. Conclusion: The global burden of CD has changed in recent decades, with a sustained decline in the number of cases. Although the majority of cases remain concentrated in Latin America, the increase observed in countries in North America and Europe highlights the importance of screening at-risk populations and raising awareness of this neglected tropical disease.

Circulating MicroRNAs and myocardial involvement severity in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Background: Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCM) is characterized by a unique pathophysiology in which inflammatory, microvascular and neuroendocrine processes coalesce in the development of one of the most severe cardiomyopathies affecting humans. Despite significant advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in this disease, scarce information is available regarding microRNAs and clinical parameters of disease severity. We aimed to evaluate the association between circulating levels of six microRNAs with markers of myocardial injury and prognosis in this population. Methods: Patients with CCM and reduced ejection fraction were included in a prospective exploratory cohort study. We assessed the association of natural log-transformed values of six circulating microRNAs (miR-34a-5p, miR-208a-5p, miR-185-5p, miR-223-5p, let-7d-5p, and miR-454-5p) with NT-proBNP levels and echocardiographic variables using linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders. By using Cox Proportional Hazard models, we examined whether levels of microRNAs could predict a composite outcome (CO), including all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, and implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Finally, for mRNAs showing significant associations, we predicted the target genes and performed pathway analyses using Targetscan and Reactome Pathway Browser. Results: Seventy-four patients were included (59% males, median age: 64 years). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and heart failure medications, only increasing miR-223-5p relative expression levels were significantly associated with better myocardial function markers, including left atrium area (Coef. -10.2; 95% CI -16.35; -4.09), end-systolic (Coef. -45.3; 95% CI -74.06; -16.61) and end-diastolic volumes (Coef. -46.1; 95% CI -81.99; -10.26) of the left ventricle. Moreover, we observed that higher miR-223-5p levels were associated with better left-ventricle ejection fraction and lower NT-proBNP levels. No associations were observed between the six microRNAs and the composite outcome. A total of 123 target genes for miR-223-5p were obtained. From these, several target pathways mainly related to signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases were identified. Conclusions: The present study found an association between miR-223-5p and clinical parameters of CCM, with signaling pathways related to receptor tyrosine kinases as a potential mechanism linking low levels of miR-223-5p with CCM worsening.

Longitudinal Speckle Tracking Strain Abnormalities in Chagas Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) is ranked among heart failure etiologies with the highest mortality rates. CCM is characterized by alterations in left ventricular function with a typical and unique pattern of myocardial involvement. Left ventricle longitudinal speckle tracking strain is emerging as an important additive method for evaluating left ventricular function and risk of future cardiovascular events. This systematic review aimed to characterize the left ventricle (LV) longitudinal strain by speckle tracking patterns in the different stages of Chagas disease, compared to healthy controls. METHODS: Searches in Medline, EMBASE, and LILACS databases (from inception to 20 May 2021) were performed. Articles written in any language that assessed patients with Chagas disease and reported any measures derived from the left ventricular strain by speckle tracking were included. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of evidence. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: Of 1044 references, ten studies, including a total of 1222 participants (CCM: 477; indeterminate form: 444; healthy controls: 301), fulfilled the selection criteria and were included in the final analysis. Patients with CCM had a significantly higher mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) value than indeterminate form (IF) patients (SMD 1.253; 95% CI 0.53, 1.98. I2 = 94%), while no significant difference was observed between IF patients and healthy controls (SMD 0.197; 95% CI -0.19, 0.59. I2 = 80%). Segmental strain analyses revealed that patients with the IF form of CD had significantly worse strain values in the basal-inferoseptal (SMD 0.49; 95% CI 0.24, 0.74. I2: 24%), and mid-inferoseptal (SMD 0.28; 95% CI 0.05, 0.50. I2: 10%) segments compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest different levels of functional derangements in myocardial function across different stages of Chagas disease. Further research is needed to assess the prognostic role of LV longitudinal strain and other measures derived from speckle tracking in CD patients regarding progression to cardiomyopathy and clinical outcomes prediction.

Brote de enfermedad aguda de Chagas adquirida oralmente en Sucre, 2019-2020 / Outbreak of orally acquired acute Chagas disease in Sucre, 2019-2020

Introducción: En las dos últimas décadas, varios países de América Latina han experimentado múltiples brotes de la enfermedad de Chagas oral. El estudio: Estudio retrospectivo que analiza un brote de enfermedad de Chagas oral aguda en Sucre, Colombia durante diciembre-enero de 2020. Los casos fueron confirmados por diferentes métodos diagnósticos. Hallazgos: Durante dos semanas se confirmaron 16 casos, donde la edad media fue de 14 años. Del total, 14 pacientes fueron hospitalizados y 2 fallecieron. Las manifestaciones clínicas incluyeron: fiebre, edema facial, hepatoesplenomegalia. En 13 de los pacientes se observaron tripomastigotes de Trypanosoma cruzi en los frotis fino y grueso. La transmisión oral se estableció como la vía más probable. Conclusiones: La enfermedad de Chagas aguda transmitida por vía oral puede poner en peligro la vida o incluso ser mortal, por tanto, es urgente mejorar las medidas de control epidemiológico a nivel nacional y en otros países de América Latina.

Background:In the last two decades, several Latin Americancountrieshaveexperiencedmultiple outbreaksoforalChagasdisease.Thestudy: Retrospective study analyzing an outbreak of acute oralChagasdiseaseinSucre,Colombiaduring December-January 2020. The cases were confirmed by different diagnostic methods. During two Finding:weeks, 16 cases were confirmed, where the mean age was 14 years and 12 were male. Of the total, 14 patientswerehospitalizedand2died.Clinical manifestationsinclude:fever,facialedema, hepatosplenomegaly,In13ofthepatients Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes were observed in thethinandthicksmears.Oraltransmissionis established as the most likely route in 14 of the patients. Acute orally transmitted Conclusions: Chagas disease can be life-threatening or even fatal, therefore, it is urgent to improve epidemiological control measures at the national level and in other Latin American countries.

Circulating DHEA-S levels and major cardiovascular outcomes in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels with cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) diagnosis. BACKGROUND: DHEA-S is among the main endogenous steroid hormones. Some studies have suggested a relevant role of this hormone in infections and the setting of CCM. Nevertheless, no study has evaluated the prognostic role of DHEA-S in CCM patients. METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Patients with CCM and reduced ejection fraction were included. We explored the association of DHEA-S levels with NT-proBNP levels and echocardiographic variables using linear regression models. Next, by using Cox Proportional Hazard models, we examined whether levels of DHEA-S could predict a composite outcome (CO) including all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, and implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included (59% males, median age: 64 years). After adjustment for confounding factors, high DHEA-S levels were associated with better LVEF, lower left atrium volume, end-systolic volume of the left ventricle and lower NT-proBNP levels. 43% of patients experienced the CO during a median follow-up of 40 months. Increased levels of DHEA-S were associated with a lower risk of developing the CO (HR 0.43; 95%CI 0.21-0.86). Finally, adding DHEA-S to the multivariate model did not improve the prediction of the CO, but substituting NT-proBNP in the model with DHEA-S showed similar performance. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CCM, higher DHEA-S levels were associated with lower mortality, heart transplantation, and LVAD implantation. Further larger studies are required to confirm our results and assess causality.

Cardiovascular Biomarkers and Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy is a unique form of cardiomyopathy, with a significantly higher mortality risk than other heart failure etiologies. Diastolic dysfunction (DD) plays an important role in the prognosis of CCM; however, the value of serum biomarkers in identifying and stratifying DD has been poorly studied in this context. We aimed to analyze the correlation of six biochemical markers with diastolic function echocardiographic markers and DD diagnosis in patients with CCM. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 100 adults with different stages of CCM. Serum concentrations of amino-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), galectin-3 (Gal-3), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT), soluble (sST2), and cystatin-C (Cys-c) were measured. Tissue Doppler imaging was used to measure echocardiographic parameters indicating DD. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted by age, sex, BMI, and NYHA classification were used to evaluate the association between the biomarkers and DD. Results: From the total patients included (55% male with a median age of 62 years), 38% had a preserved LVEF, but only 14% had a normal global longitudinal strain. Moreover, 64% had a diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction, with most of the patients showing a restrictive pattern (n = 28). The median levels of all biomarkers (except for sST2) were significantly higher in the group of patients with DD. Higher levels of natural log-transformed NTproBNP (per 1-unit increase, OR = 3.41, p < 0.001), Hs-cTnT (per 1-unit increase, OR = 3.24, p = 0.001), NGAL (per 1-unit increase, OR = 5.24, p =0.003), and Cys-C (per 1-unit increase, OR = 22.26, p = 0.008) were associated with increased odds of having diastolic dysfunction in the multivariate analyses. Finally, NT-proBNP had the highest AUC value (88.54) for discriminating DD presence. Conclusion: Cardiovascular biomarkers represent valuable tools for diastolic dysfunction assessment in the context of CCM. Additional studies focusing mainly on patients with HFpEF are required to validate the performance of these cardiovascular biomarkers in CCM, allowing for an optimal assessment of this unique population.

Tromboprofilaxis, anticoagulación y coagulopatía en tiempos de pandemia: recomendación de la ACATA, ACMI, SCC CCV y ACMV / Thromboprophylaxis, anticoagulation and coagulopathy in times of pandemic: The ACATA, ACMI, SCC CCV and ACMV recommendation

Resumen Introducción La enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) puede predisponer a tromboembolia venosa o trombosis arterial debido a una respuesta inflamatoria aumentada, hipoxia, inmovilización y coagulación intravascular diseminada; hasta en un 20 a 50% de pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19 tienen alteraciones hematológicas relacionadas con coagulopatía (dímero D elevado, tiempo de protrombina prolongado, trombocitopenia y/o fibrinógeno bajo). Evaluaciones post mortem evidencian depósitos trombóticos microvasculares típicos, ricos en plaquetas en vasos pequeños de pulmones y otros órganos. Objetivo Brindar una aproximación práctica y actualizada en el manejo del paciente con riesgo elevado o que presentan eventos tromboembólicos en el marco de la actual pandemia por COVID-19. Material y métodos: Se realizó una revisión narrativa que incluyó estudios observacionales descriptivos. Se efectuó una búsqueda de la literatura de evidencia médica en diferentes buscadores como Science Direct y PubMed, usando las palabras claves “thromboprophylaxis”, “anticoagulation”, “thrombosis”, “anticoagulant”, “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “coronavirus”. Posteriormente se escribieron las recomendaciones generales referentes al tema. Conclusiones Existen diferentes formas en las que la pandemia por COVID-19 puede predisponer al desarrollo de enfermedades trombóticas o tromboembólicas, el efecto directo o indirecto de este virus relacionado con la tormenta de citocinas que precipita el inicio del síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica y predispone al desarrollo de eventos trombóticos; también las intervenciones disponibles pueden tener interacciones farmacológicas con antiagregantes y/o anticoagulantes.

Abstract Introduction Coronavirus 19 infection can predispose to VTE or arterial thrombosis due to a heightened inflammatory response, hypoxia, immobility and DIC. Up to 20-50% of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have hematological disorders related to coagulopathies (elevated D-dimer, prolonged PT, thrombocytopenia and/or low fibrinogen). Post-mortem examinations show typical platelet-rich microvascular thrombotic deposits in the small vessels of the lungs and other organs. Objective To provide a practical, updated approach to the treatment of patients at high risk for or with ongoing thromboembolic events in the current COVID-19 pandemic setting. Material and methods A narrative review was performed including descriptive observational studies. A search of the medical evidence literature was carried out in different search engines such as ScienceDirect and PubMed, using the following key words: “thromboprophylaxis”, “anticoagulation”, “thrombosis”, “anticoagulant”, “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, and “coronavirus”, and general recommendations on the topic were subsequently composed. Conclusions The are various ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic may predispose to the development of thrombotic or thromboembolic diseases. The virus may have a direct or indirect effect related to the cytokine storm which triggers the onset of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and predisposes to the development of thrombotic events. The available interventions may also have pharmacological interactions with antiplatelet drugs and/or anticoagulants.

Cardiovascular biomarkers as predictors of adverse outcomes in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCM) is a unique form of cardiomyopathy compared to other etiologies of heart failure. In CCM, risk prediction based on biomarkers has not been well-studied. We assessed the prognostic value of a biomarker panel to predict a composite outcome (CO), including the need for heart transplantation, use of left ventricular assist devices, and mortality. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of 100 adults with different stages of CCM. Serum concentrations of amino-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), galectin-3 (Gal-3), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), high sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT), soluble (sST2), and cystatin-C (Cys-c) were measured. Survival analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 52 months, the mortality rate was 20%, while the CO was observed in 25% of the patients. Four biomarkers (NT-proBNP, hs-cTnT, sST2, and Cys-C) were associated with the CO; concentrations of NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT were associated with the highest AUC (85.1 and 85.8, respectively). Combining these two biomarkers above their selected cut-off values significantly increased risk for the CO (HR 3.18; 95%CI 1.31-7.79). No events were reported in the patients in whom the two biomarkers were under the cut-off values, and when both levels were above cut-off values, the CO was observed in 60.71%. CONCLUSION: The combination of NT-proBNP and hs-TnT above their selected cut-off values is associated with a 3-fold increase in the risk of the composite outcome among CCM patients. The use of cardiac biomarkers may improve prognostic evaluation of patients with CCM.

Admixture mapping analysis reveals differential genetic ancestry associated with Chagas disease susceptibility in the Colombian population.

Chagas disease is an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, endemic in Latino America. Leveraging the three-way admixture between Native American (AMR), European (EUR) and African (AFR) populations in Latin Americans, we aimed to better understand the genetic basis of Chagas disease by performing an admixture mapping study in a Colombian population. A two-stage study was conducted, and subjects were classified as seropositive and seronegative for T. cruzi. In stage 1, global and local ancestries were estimated using reference data from the 1000 Genomes Project (1KGP), and local ancestry associations were performed by logistic regression models. The AMR ancestry showed a protective association with Chagas disease within the major histocompatibility complex region [Odds ratio (OR) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.66-0.83, lowest P-value = 4.53 × 10-8]. The fine mapping assessment on imputed genotypes combining data from stage 1 and 2 from an independent Colombian cohort, revealed nominally associated variants in high linkage disequilibrium with the top signal (rs2032134, OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.90-0.97, P-value = 3.54 × 10-4) in the previously associated locus. To assess ancestry-specific adaptive signals, a selective sweep scan in an AMR reference population from 1KGP together with an in silico functional analysis highlighted the Tripartite Motif family and the human leukocyte antigen genes, with crucial role in the immune response against pathogens. Furthermore, these analyses emphasized the macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils, as key players in the defense against T. cruzi. This first admixture mapping study in Chagas disease provided novel insights underlying the host immune response in the pathogenesis of this neglected disease.

Registro colombiano de falla cardiaca (RECOLFACA): metodología y datos preliminares / Colombian heart failure registry (RECOLFACA): methodology and preliminary data

Resumen El registro RECOLFACA es la primera aproximación que se realiza en Colombia sobre el perfil clínico y demográfico de los pacientes con falla cardiaca, e incluye instituciones de gran parte del territorio nacional. Esta información es de gran relevancia ya que permitirá caracterizar la población y servir como base para diseñar políticas públicas que ofrezcan una mejor atención en salud a esta población. Este importante proyecto epidemiológico, llevado a cabo por el Capítulo de Falla Cardíaca, Trasplantes e Hipertensión Pulmonar de la Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular, es pionero en la evaluación de las enfermedades cardiovasculares en Colombia y, adicionalmente, servirá como modelo para la evaluación de otras enfermedades.

Abstract The RECOLFACA registry is Colombia’s first approach to describing the clinical and demographic profile of patients with heart failure, which includes institutions throughout much of the country. This information is of great importance as it will characterize the population and serve as the basis for designing public policies which will provide better health care to this population. This important epidemiological project, carried out by the Heart Failure, Transplants and Pulmonary Hypertension Chapter of the Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular [Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery] is a pioneer in evaluating cardiovascular diseases in Colombia, and will also serve as a model for evaluating other diseases.