Cardiopatia chagásica: predição mais eficaz de morte nestes doentes? Importância da prova de esforço cardiopulmonar

Chagas disease, an infection caused by a protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major public health problem with a considerable global disease burden and costs. It is the third most prevalent serious parasitic infection worldwide after malaria and schistosomiasis. The disease is endemic in South America and incidence is high, with around 11 million infected individuals, despite efforts to fight the disease that have included extensive campaigns to eradicate the disease’s insect vectors. Large-scale migrations have enabled Chagas disease to cross borders and to spread worldwide. Since it can also be transmitted by blood transfusions and organ transplantation, it has become necessary to screen blood donors, particularly in the USA, where there are large immigrant populations, and in Europe, especially in Spain and Portugal, but also in other countries.