[Prevalence of Chagas disease among blood donors in Piauí State, Brazil, from 2004 to 2013]

Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among blood donors in the state of Pará, Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected pathology worldwide, considered a public health problem due to the high morbidity and mortality rate and its social impact. Thus, the objective was to estimate the prevalence of reactive serology for T. cruzi in blood donors in the units of the public blood network in the state of Pará (Brazil), as well as to describe the epidemiological profile of these donors.

METHODS

This is a retrospective and descriptive study carried out at the Pará State Center for Hematology and Hemotherapy (HEMOPA) between 2016 and 2021, with analysis of secondary data (epidemiological and serological) of inapt blood donors for CD.

RESULTS

Among the 533,674 screened samples, the reactivity for anti-T. cruzi was detected in 0.1% (548), of which 0.03% (166) were inconclusive and 0.07% (382) were positive. The hemonucleus of the city of Abaetetuba had the highest seroprevalence (0.6%). Regarding epidemiological characteristics, most blood donors were men (63.7%), aged between 31 and 45 (44.7%), racially mixed (79.2%), high school graduate (45.8%), single/widowed/divorced (62%), first-time donors (69%), spontaneous donations (58%) and from the state's countryside (69.9%).

CONCLUSION

Over the years analyzed, we observed an increase in seroprevalence for T. cruzi emphasizing the need to maintain epidemiological control in the region and the application of more accurate serological tests in the screening of donor blood bags.

Epidemiological indicators of Chagas disease in the metropolitan region of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

BACKGROUND

Chagas disease (CD) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by triatomines. Historical information from the 20th century demonstrates T. cruzi records in the metropolitan region of Salvador (MRS), the third largest urban agglomeration in the Brazilian Northeast and the eighth largest in Brazil, an area with intense migratory activity from CD-endemic regions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate CD indicators (prevalence and mortality) in the MRS.

METHODS

A mixed ecological and descriptive study was conducted using secondary data. We analyzed data from 2008 to 2015: deaths due to CD, self-reported cases of CD, and blood donors that were non-negative for T. cruzi infection.

RESULTS

São Francisco do Conde was one of the municipalities with the highest mortality rates due to CD. The seroprevalence rates varied by year and municipality; those with the highest values were 2008: Vera Cruz, 2009: Mata de São João, 2010: Dias D'Ávila, 2011 and 2015: São Francisco do Conde, 2012: São Sebastião do Passé, and 2013 and 2014: Pojuca. Spatial correlations between the municipalities were not detected.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that CD is present in the MRS. The indicators analyzed in the MRS are below-state-level data. Given the importance of indicator analysis for the surveillance and control of CD at the state and national levels, it is important to strengthen the surveillance program at the municipal level, including the regions classified as low risk for T. cruzi vector transmission.

Socio-epidemiological factors and comorbidities associated with Chagas disease manifestations in two urban reference health care centres in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BACKGROUND

Chagas disease (CD) is still an important public health issue in Latin America. This study aims to analyse the association between socio-epidemiological factors and comorbidities with clinical manifestations of CD.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study of 985 adult patients (65±11 y; 59.5% women) with CD. Data collection was based on questionnaires and medical records review. CD clinical forms (indeterminate, digestive, cardiac and cardiodigestive) and the stages of the cardiac form were classified according to the II Brazilian Consensus on CD. Statistical analyses were based on univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Older age and Brazilian birth state (Minas Gerais and Bahia) were associated with a greater likelihood of the cardiac form of CD. A greater likelihood of the digestive form was seen in men and those of older age. Patients with arterial hypertension and diabetes were less likely to have the digestive form. Men had a greater likelihood of having a more severe cardiac presentation. Those from Minas Gerais and Bahia states had a greater likelihood of having stage B1 or B2.

CONCLUSIONS

The results reinforce the aging of the CD population living in urban areas in Brazil, the high prevalence of comorbidities and that epidemiology, sex and the presence of comorbidities may be related to the clinical form of CD.

[Hospital admissions due to neglected tropical diseases in Piauí, in the Northeast region of Brazil: costs, time trends, and spatial patterns, 2001-2018]

To characterize the magnitude of hospital admissions and costs of patients with neglected tropical diseases, their time trends, and spatial patterns in Piauí, in the Northeast Region of Brazil, in 2001-2018. Ecological study of mixed designs, with calculation of relative risk (RR), time-trend analysis by Poisson regression, and inflection points, using data from neglected tropical diseases Hospital Admission Authorizations available in the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SIH/SUS). Data showed 49,832 hospital admissions due to neglected tropical diseases in the period (rate: 86.70/100,000 inhabitants; 95%CI: 83.47; 89.93); of these, dengue (78.2%), leishmaniasis (8.6%), and leprosy (6.4%). The total cost was BRL 34,481,815.43, 42.8% of which referred to medium complexity cases. Higher risks of hospitalization occurred among people ≥ 60 years (RR = 1.8; 95%CI: 1.5; 2.2), mixed race/color (RR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.1; 2.4), residents of municipalities presenting medium social vulnerability (RR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.3; 1.6), and population size (RR = 1.6; 95%CI: 1.4; 1.9). The time trend showed a reduction in hospital admissions due to neglected tropical diseases, 2003-2018 (annual percent change - APC: -10.3; 95%CI: -14.7; -5.6). The spatial pattern showed clusters with higher rates of hospital admission in border municipalities located south of the Mid-north macroregion, north of the Semiarid macroregion, and south of the Cerrados macroregion. Piauí remains with high hospital admission rates and costs for neglected tropical diseases. Despite the reduction in time trends, knowledge burden, population groups, and municipalities at greater risk and vulnerability reinforce the importance of monitoring and strengthening control actions to maintain the reduction of the burden and costs of hospital admission due to neglected tropical diseases in the state.

Epidemiological aspects of Chagas disease in the state of Piauí (Northeast Brazil) in the period 2010-2019

Chagas disease (ChD), caused by the hemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important morbidity that affects approximately six million people in the American continent. T. cruzi parasites are mainly transmitted to human by the infected feces of blood-sucking triatomine insects. The persistent disease is endemic in many regions of South America, mostly affecting residents of rural areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological aspects of ChD in the state of Pi-auí located in northeastern Brazil. This is an analytical cross-sectional study carried out from the collection of data of the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN, in Portuguese, Sistema de Informações de Agravos de Notificação) of suspected and confirmed cases of acute ChD in the state of Piauí, in the period 2010-2019. Associations between T. cruzi positivity and the study variables were determined by the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and were raised as prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence interval. According to this survey, 517 suspected cases of acute ChD were reported in Piauí, with 70 cases (13.5%) confirmed. In 88.5% of confirmed cases, confirmation occurred by laboratory diagnosis. Most of the confirmed cases occurred in municipalities located in the semiarid region, with the municipality of São João do Piauí presenting the highest number of cases. Regarding sociodemographic data, females represent 55.7% of cases, people over 50 years of age (55.7%), being three cases in people up to 18 years of age, and less than 8 years of schooling (67.1%). 77.9% of confirmed cases had vector transmission as the probable form of infection. The data available in this study conclude that vectorial transmission of ChD in the state of Piauí remains active. This fact is corroborated by the number of notified and confirmed cases of acute ChD, requiring housing improvement programs and more effective epidemiological surveillance to control the transmission of the disease in the state.

Mortalidade por doenças tropicais negligenciadas no Piauí, Nordeste do Brasil: tendência temporal e padrões espaciais, 2001-2018

Resumo Objetivo Analisar tendência temporal e padrões espaciais da mortalidade por doenças tropicais negligenciadas (DTNs) no Piauí, Brasil, 2001-2018. Métodos Estudo ecológico misto, com cálculo de razão de risco (RR), análise de tendência espaço-temporal, regressão de Poisson com pontos de inflexão, utilizando-se dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. Resultados Verificaram-se 2.609 óbitos por DTNs no período (4,60/100 mil habitantes), 55,2% por doença de Chagas. Houve maior risco de morte no sexo masculino (RR=1,76; IC95% 1,25;2,46), idade ≥60 anos (RR=40,71; IC95% 10,01;165,53), municípios com vulnerabilidade social média (RR=1,76; IC95% 1,09;2,84), menor porte populacional (RR=1,99; IC95% 1,28;3,10) e macrorregião dos Cerrados (RR=4,51; IC95% 2,51;8,11). Verificou-se tendência de aumento nas taxas de mortalidade em 2001-2008 e redução em 2009-2018. Conclusão A mortalidade por DTNs no Piauí persiste elevada, particularmente por doença de Chagas, entre grupos de maior vulnerabilidade, concentrando-se as maiores taxas no sudoeste da macrorregião do Semiárido, nordeste e sul dos Cerrados.

Seropositivity for Chagas disease in blood donors from the state of Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil: an 11-year time series study

INTRODUCTION

Chagas disease can be transmitted by blood transfusion. Herein, we assessed the seropositivity for Chagas disease in blood donors from Alagoas, during 2010-2020.

METHODS

Data were requested from the Alagoas blood center. Time trend analysis was performed using a joinpoint regression model.

RESULTS

Seropositivity rate during the study period was 0.35%, which decreased from 2014 to 2020, (annual percentage change, APC = -29.38; p-value <0.05), while the total number of tests performed remained stable (APC = 6.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the drop in the seropositivity for Chagas infection in donors, it is imperative to maintain the screening of donors for the epidemiological control.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection in Blood Donors

Fundamento

A doença de Chagas (DC) é considerada um problema de saúde pública na América Latina. A região nordeste, principalmente o estado do Ceará, ainda representa grande preocupação em termos de risco de transmissão da doença.

Objetivo

Estimar a prevalência de T. cruzi em doadores de sangue do estado do Ceará.

Métodos

Trata-se um de estudo retrospectivo descritivo realizado no período de 2010 a 2015, a partir de dados registrados no sistema informatizado do Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Ceará (HEMOCE).

Resultados

Dos 763.731 potenciais doadores de sangue, 14.159 foram considerados impedidos de fazer a doação devido à sorologia, sendo que 1.982 (0,33%) o foram devido à positividade/inconclusão para doença de Chagas. Compareceram à Hemorrede para a repetição 425 indivíduos, sendo confirmados 28,2% (120/425) como impedidos de doar devido a DC.

Conclusão

Não houve redução significativa das sorologias positivas/inconclusivas no período entre 2010-2015, porém foi observada redução em relação a 1996/1997 no estado. A determinação da prevalência da doença de Chagas em bancos de sangue pode ser relevante como indicador do risco de transmissão transfusional em determinada região. Novos testes sorológicos para triagem com melhor acurácia são necessários, reduzindo o descarte desnecessário de bolsas de sangue, os custos para o Sistema Único de Saúde e a insegurança para os pacientes e familiares. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(6):1082-1091)