Analysis of dysautonomia in patients with Chagas Cardiomyopathy

TL;DR

This study investigates autonomic nervous system alterations in Chagas disease patients using 24-hour RR interval analysis, revealing significant dysautonomia in infected individuals compared to healthy controls.

Contribution

It introduces a non-invasive, low-cost method to detect early cardiac autonomic alterations in Chagas disease patients through RR interval analysis.

Findings

Significant differences in RR intervals among groups

Evidence of dysautonomia in Chagas patients

Potential for early detection of cardiac involvement

Abstract

Chagas disease American trypanosomiasis is caused by a flagellated parasite: trypanosoma cruzi, transmitted by an insect of the genus Triatoma and also by blood transfusions. In Latin America the number of infected people is approximately 6 million, with a population exposed to the risk of infection of 550000. It is our interest to develop a non-invasive, low-cost methodology, capable of detecting any alteration early on cardiaca produced by T. cruzi. We analyzed the 24 hour RR records in patients with ECG abnormalities (CH2), patients without ECG alterations (CH1) who had positive serological findings for Chagas disease and healthy (Control) matched by sex and age. We found significant differences between the Control, CH1 and CH2 groups that show dysautonomy and enervation of the autonomic nervous system.