[Clinic and epidemiological study on Chagas disease in the Serra Azul district of Mateus Leme, central-western region of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil]. / Estudo clínico-epidemiológico da doença de Chagas no distrito de Serra Azul, Mateus Leme, centro-oeste do Estado de Minas Gerais.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease remains a severe public health problem in Latin America, despite control over its transmission. This study evaluated the prevalence of Chagas disease in the Serra Azul district, in the central-western region of the State of Minas Gerais, through identifying electrocardiographic (EKG) abnormalities among serologically positive individuals. METHODS: Specific serological tests for Chagas disease were carried out on 676 individuals (48% of the population). Clinical examinations and EKGs were performed on the serologically positive population. A control group was selected for comparison with the EKG data. RESULTS: The study population lived mainly in rural areas, with low sociocultural level. Forty subjects were positive (prevalence of 2.1%). The individuals with Chagas disease were in an older age group (67 vs. 39 years; p < 0.001). EKG abnormalities were frequent among the individuals with Chagas disease (79%). Among the seropositive individuals, the EKGs showed greater prevalence of ventricular premature beats and conduction disorder of the right branch alone or in association with anterosuperior division blockage, in relation to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Chagas disease in the Serra Azul district was 2.1%. The seropositive individuals were in an older group, thus suggesting that transmission had been brought under control. EKG abnormalities occurred frequently, and conduction disorders of the right branch predominated.

Estudo clínico-epidemiológico da doença de Chagas no distrito de Serra Azul, Mateus Leme, centro-oeste do Estado de Minas Gerais / Clinic and epidemiological study on Chagas disease in the Serra Azul district of Mateus Leme, central-western region of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

INTRODUÇÃO: A doença de Chagas permanece como grave problema de saúde pública na América Latina, mesmo com o controle de sua transmissão. Esse estudo avaliou a prevalência da doença de Chagas no distrito de Serra Azul, Centro-Oeste de Minas Gerais, identificando as anormalidades eletrocardiografias dos indivíduos com sorologia positiva. MÉTODOS: A sorologia para doença de Chagas foi realizada em 676 indivíduos (48 por cento da população). O exame clínico e o eletrocardiograma (ECG) foram realizados na população sorologicamente positiva. Selecionou-se um grupo controle para comparação dos dados do ECG. RESULTADOS: A população estudada residia principalmente em área rural, com baixo nível sóciocultural. Quatorze indivíduos foram positivos, com prevalência de 2,1 por cento. Os indivíduos chagásicos eram de faixa etária mais avançada (67 vs 39 anos; p < 0,001). As anormalidades ao ECG nos chagásicos foram frequentes (79 por cento). O ECG dos soropositivos mostrou maior prevalência de extrassístoles ventriculares, distúrbio da condução do ramo direito isolado ou associado ao bloqueio da divisão ântero-superior em relação ao grupo controle. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência da doença de Chagas no distrito de Serra Azul foi de 2,1 por cento. Os soropositivos estavam em faixa etária mais elevada, sugerindo controle da transmissão. As anormalidades eletrocardiográficas foram frequentes, predominando distúrbio de condução do ramo direito.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease remains a severe public health problem in Latin America, despite control over its transmission. This study evaluated the prevalence of Chagas disease in the Serra Azul district, in the central-western region of the State of Minas Gerais, through identifying electrocardiographic (EKG) abnormalities among serologically positive individuals. METHODS: Specific serological tests for Chagas disease were carried out on 676 individuals (48 percent of the population). Clinical examinations and EKGs were performed on the serologically positive population. A control group was selected for comparison with the EKG data. RESULTS: The study population lived mainly in rural areas, with low sociocultural level. Forty subjects were positive (prevalence of 2.1 percent). The individuals with Chagas disease were in an older age group (67 vs. 39 years; p < 0.001). EKG abnormalities were frequent among the individuals with Chagas disease (79 percent). Among the seropositive individuals, the EKGs showed greater prevalence of ventricular premature beats and conduction disorder of the right branch alone or in association with anterosuperior division blockage, in relation to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Chagas disease in the Serra Azul district was 2.1 percent. The seropositive individuals were in an older group, thus suggesting that transmission had been brought under control. EKG abnormalities occurred frequently, and conduction disorders of the right branch predominated.