Prognosis of Chagas Cardiomyopathy

The prognosis of Chagas cardiomyopathy is directly related to the severity of the disease.

The following are signs of poor prognosis:

• New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV
• Complex ventricular arrhythmias on EKG or provoked by exercise stress testing
• Sustained or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia
• Increased left ventricular (LV) systolic diameter
• Decreased LV ejection fraction
• Segmental or global LV wall motion abnormalities

Patients with congestive heart failure due to Chagas cardiomyopathy may have shorter survival than those with other etiologies.

Detailed cardiac management of Chagas cardiomyopathy is beyond the scope of this CME. Patients with significant cardiac abnormalities should receive specialized cardiological evaluation and management.