Worldwide prevalence of chagas cardiomyopathy—an analysis from the global burden of disease dataset

PURPOSE: The worldwide prevalence of Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCM) as well as the trends in the prevalence of CCM over time have not been well characterized. METHODS: An analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data from 1990 to 2019 was conducted to assess the burden of CCM. This study focused on determining the prevalence of CCM, along with its age-standardized prevalence rate (ASR) per 1,00,000 people, considering various patient demographics and geographical regions as defined in the GBD. Additionally, the study examined the temporal trends over this 30-year period by calculating the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in CCM prevalence for the global population and specific subgroups. RESULTS: Worldwide, the GBD reported 220,166 individuals with CCM in 1990 and 2,83,236 individuals in 2019, with a decline in the ASR from 5.23 (3.34-7.47) to 3.42 (2.2-4.91) per 1,00,000 individuals during that period. In 2019, the prevalence was highest in individuals over age 70 and in males compared to females. Among available geographic classifications in 2019, Latin American regions had the highest rates (ASR of 39.49-61.15/1,00,000), while high income North American and Western European regions had the lowest rates (ASRs of 0.67 and 0.34/1,00,000, respectively). Between 1990 and 2019, the worldwide prevalence of CCM per 1,00,000 decreased (EAPC of -0.35, -0.37 to -0.32), with similar trends among most regions and subgroups. CONCLUSION: This analysis of the GBD data reveals both global and country-specific patterns in the prevalence and trends of CCM. Notably, CCM shows the highest prevalence in Latin American countries, although it's also significantly present in regions beyond Latin America. Notably, the global age-standardized rate of CCM is on the decline, suggesting improvements in healthcare strategies or lifestyle changes across the world.