Doença de Chagas: serviço de referência e epidemiologia

Abstract

Objective: To describe a reference center for Chagas disease and the clinical and epidemiological profile of users. Methods: A cross-sectional study of secondary data was conducted at a reference center for chronic cases of Chagas disease located in an endemic region of the state of Pernambuco from 2017 to 2018. Data were collected from nineteen users with reactive serology obtained by two methods of different principles or with different antigenic preparations. Sociodemographic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic variables were analyzed. Care flow and care offer were also analyzed. Descriptive analysis used mean, standard deviation and absolute frequency. Results: The mean age of the cases was 55 years with a standard deviation of ±14. Most users were women and lived in urban areas. All the users currently live or have lived in wattle and daub houses. Systemic arterial hypertension and stage B1 heart disease were the most prevalent comorbidities. The users had megaesophagus, predisposing factors for heart failure and family members with Chagas disease. Only one case was treated with benznidazole and the mean number of medications for comorbidities was 2.7±2.2 per user. Conclusion: The users were inserted in a context of socioenvironmental vulnerability because they lived in wattle and daub houses, presented a predominance of heart failure and worsening of clinical conditions due to the presence of comorbidities and tobacco use. In addition, the users face difficulties in making appointments and exams and accessing medications.