Chagas' disease and ageing: the coexistence of other chronic diseases with Chagas' disease in elderly patients Doença de Chagas e envelhecimento: a associação de outras enfermidades crônicas em pacientes idosos chagásicos

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 2009-12, Vol.42 (6), p.622-628
• Main Authors: Rosalía Matera de Angelis Alves, Raquel Prado Thomaz, Eros Antônio de Almeida, Jamiro da Silva Wanderley, Maria Elena Guariento
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ageing; Chagas' disease; Co-morbidades; Comorbidities; Doença de Chagas; Elderly; Envelhecimento; Idosos
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86822009000600002

This study aimed to identify the main comorbidities in elderly chagasic patients treated in a reference service and identify possible associations between the clinical form of Chagas' disease and chronic diseases. Ninety patients aged 60 years-old or over were interviewed and their clinical diagnoses recorded. The study population profile was: women (55.6%); median age (67 years); married (51.1%); retired (73.3%); up to four years' education (64.4%); and earning less than two minimum wages (67.8%). The predominant forms of Chagas' disease were the cardiac (46.7%) and mixed forms (30%). There was a greater proportion of mild cardiac dysfunction (84.1%), frequently in association with megaesophagus. The mean number of concurrent diseases was 2.856 ± 1.845, and 33% of the patients had four or more comorbidities. The most frequent were systemic arterial hypertension (56.7%), osteoporosis (23.3%), osteoarthritis (21.2%) and dyslipidemia (20%). Positive correlations were verified between sex and comorbidities and between age group and comorbidities.Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o perfil sociodemográfico e identificar as principais co-morbidades de idosos chagásicos, buscando associação entre forma clínica da doença de Chagas e enfermidades crônicas. Foi realizada entrevista e levantamento dos diagnósticos clínicos de 90 chagásicos com idade > 60 anos. Encontrou-se: mulheres (55,6%), mediana de 67 anos, casados (51,1%) e renda mensal inferior a dois salários-mínimos (67,8%). A forma clínica predominante foi a cardíaca (46,7%), seguida da mista (30%). Houve maior proporção de cardiopatia leve (84,1%), sendo frequente a associação com megaesôfago. Trinta e três por cento apresentavam quatro ou mais co-morbidades, dentre elas: hipertensão arterial (56,7%), osteoporose (23,3%), osteoartrite (21,2%) e dislipidemia (20%). Obteve-se correlação positiva entre gênero e co-morbidades, faixa etária e co-morbidades.