Health-related quality of life in Brazilian outpatients with Chagas and non-Chagas cardiomyopathy

Purpose To examine differences in demographic, clinical, and health-related characteristics of quality of life in heart failure patients with Chagas and non-Chagas cardiomyopathy in Brazil. Methods This observational study was carried out with 43 Brazilian out-patients with Chagas and 59 non-Chagas cardiomyopathy. Results No differences were evident between the 2 groups regarding age, sex, mean left-ventricular ejection fraction, and duration of follow-up. Compared with the non-Chagas group, patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy had a higher percentage of participants using artificial pacemakers ( P < .001), more symptoms of heart failure as measured by New York Heart Association classes III and IV ( P = .02), higher intakes of aspirin and warfarin, a higher use of artificial pacemakers because of bradycardia, and lower health-related quality of life in the Physical Functioning ( P = .01) and Role Physical ( P = .002) domains of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item Health Status Survey. Conclusion Our study population was limited to one region endemic for Chagas disease in Brazil, and therefore findings need to be confirmed and should not be generalized to other populations without further research.