Acute Heart Failure in Patients with Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Results of the I Brazilian Heart Failure Registry (BREATHE)

Arq Bras Cardiol. 2025 May;122(5):e20240555. doi: 10.36660/abc.20240555.
[Article in Portuguese, English]

Abstract

Background: Although the clinical features of chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy (CCC) have been well established, clinical data about the patients are scarce.

Objectives: The current analysis reports the results of the I Brazilian Heart Failure Registry (BREATHE) assessing baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with acute heart failure due to CCC.

Methods: BREATHE enrolled a total of 3,013 adult patients hospitalized with acute heart failure. We analyzed comparatively 261 (8.7%) patients with chronic CCC and 2,752 (91.3%) patients with other etiologies. Clinical and demographic information, cardiac structure/function data on echocardiogram and outcomes during the hospital stay and after discharge were assessed in both groups. Uni and multivariate tests were performed and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Patients with CCC presented lower systolic blood pressure (108.3 ± 26.1 vs 128.3 ± 30.3 mmHg, p<0.001) and left ventricle ejection fraction (25.4 [19 - 36]% vs 37 [27 - 54] %, p<0.001) with higher rates of jugular vein distension (54.8% vs 38.9%, p<0.001), hepatomegaly (47.9% vs 25.6%, p<0.001), and "cold and wet" clinical hemodynamic profile (27.2% vs 10.6%, p<0.001). Patients with CCC presented higher rate of the composite death or heart transplantation (17.4% vs. 11.1%, p=0.004), and higher cumulative incidence of death after 3 months (16.5% vs 10.8%, p=0.017), 6 months (25.3% vs 17.2%, p=0.006), and 12 months (39.4% vs 26.6%, p<0.001). Besides, CCC was independently associated with 12-month mortality risk with odds ratio = 2.02 (95% IC: 1.47-2.77).

Conclusion: Patients with CCC, hospitalized due to acute heart failure, in comparison to other etiologies, presented a higher risk profile that was associated with a poorer outcome during hospital stay and after discharge.

Fundamentos: Apesar de as características clínicas da Cardiomiopatia Chagásica Crônica (CCC) estarem bem estabelecidas, os dados clínicos sobre os pacientes são escassos.

Objetivos: Esta análise relata os resultados do I Registro Brasileiro de Insuficiência Cardíaca (BREATHE) avaliando as características basais e desfechos clínicos de pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca aguda secundária à CCC.

Métodos: O BREATHE incluiu 3013 pacientes adultos internados com insuficiência cardíaca aguda. Nós analisamos comparativamente 261 (8,7%) pacientes com CCC e 2752 (91,3%) pacientes com outras etiologias. Dados clínicos e demográficos, informações da estrutura e da função cardíaca no ecocardiograma e desfechos durante a internação hospitalar e após a alta foram avaliados em ambos os grupos. Testes univariados e multivariados foram realizados, e um p-valor < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo.

Resultados: Pacientes com CCC apresentaram pressão arterial sistólica (108,3 ± 26,1 vs. 128,3 ± 30,3 mmHg, p<0,001) e fração de ejeção ventricular esquerda [25,4 (19 – 36)% vs. 37 (27 – 54) %, p<0,001) mais baixas, com taxas mais altas de distensão da veia jugular (54,8% vs. 38,9%, p<0,001), hepatomegalia (47,9% vs. 25,6%, p<0,001), e de perfil “frio e úmido” (27,2% vs. 10,6%, p<0,001). Pacientes com CCC apresentaram taxas mais altas do desfecho composto de morte ou transplante cardíaco (17,4% vs. 11,1%, p=0,004), e incidência cumulativa mais alta de morte após três meses (16,5% vs. 10,8%, p=0,017), seis meses (25,3% vs. 17,2%, p=0,006), e 12 meses (39,4% vs. 26,6%, p<0,001). Além disso, CCC associou-se independentemente com risco de mortalidade em 12 meses, com um odds ratio de 2,02 (IC95%: 1,47-2,77).

Conclusão: Em comparação a outras etiologias, os pacientes com CCC internados por insuficiência cardíaca aguda apresentaram um perfil de maior risco que foi associado com um pior desfecho durante a internação hospitalar e após a alta.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy* / complications
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy* / mortality
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy* / physiopathology
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Failure* / etiology
  • Heart Failure* / mortality
  • Heart Failure* / physiopathology
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Registries
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke Volume / physiology