Abstract 105: Chagas Disease: an Independent Mortality Risk Factor for Patients with Pacemakers?

Background: Almost 25% of patients with Chagas disease (CD) have some degree of cardiac compromise, including rhythm disturbances, which ultimately may require permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. CD has been shown to be an independent risk factor for mortality in heart failure. In PPM patients the prognostic significance of CD seropositivity is yet to be determined. Methods: Patients from a highly endemic region for CD with a PPM were divided into two groups: those with CD confirmed by immunofluorescence and those without CD. Patients were followed for a 3-year period. Cox proportional-hazards model and Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test for mortality were calculated. Results: A total of 75 patients aged 65.3±12 years were included, of which 31 (41%) were males and 49 (65%) had positive serology for CD. Age, gender, diabetes, hypertension, ejection fraction, reason for PPM implantation and prior myocardial infarction were not significantly different between groups. After a 3-year follow up, 8 pati...