Chagas disease is an independent risk factor for stroke: baseline characteristics of a Chagas Disease cohort.
OBJECTIVE
Chagas disease (CD) is frequently associated with cardioembolic stroke in South America. Our objective was to identify the predictors of stroke in a region where CD is endemic.


METHODS
We screened 305 consecutive cardiopathy patients. Significant predictors of stroke in univariable analyses were included in a multivariable model.


RESULTS
Stroke was more frequent in CD (15.0%) compared with other cardiopathies (6.3%; P=0.015). Other predictors of stroke in univariable analyses were previous diabetes or cardioversion and use of amiodarone, antiplatelet agents, and warfarin. In multivariable analysis, remaining predictors of stroke were CD (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.17), cardioversion (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.13), and diabetes (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.24).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, CD is a risk factor for stroke, independent of systolic dysfunction or presence of cardiac arrhythmias.
Oliveira-Filho
Jamary
J
Cardiomyopathy Clinic, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. jamaryof@ufba.br
Viana
Leila C
LC
Vieira-de-Melo
Rodrigo M
RM
Faiçal
Frederico
F
Torreão
Jorge A
JA
Villar
Flávio A G A
FA
Reis
Francisco J F B
FJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D000638:Amiodarone