Chagas disease: eletrocardiografic finds and left atrial volume index

Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish a relationship between eletrocardiogram (EKG) and echodopplercardiogram (ECO) results, focusing on the Left Atrial Volume Index (LAVI). Seventy-five participants who had tested positive for Chagas disease (CD) were evaluated. Left atrial volume was measured by corporal surface. The presence of co-morbidities able of interfering with LAVI were evaluated. The participants: median age 56±11 years old; 38.7% male, mainly from Paraná (28.0%), São Paulo (22.7%), Minas Gerais (21.3%) states; 53 (71.0%) presented high blood pressure. Twenty-five participants were overweight (33.3%), with 21 being Grade I obese (28.0%). Thirty-five (46.7%) had an increased LAVI. Twenty-seven showed normal EKG results. Of these, 9 had increased LAVI. From 48 participants with altered EKG results, 36 displayed alterations indicative of CD. Nineteen of them had increased LAVI. From 12 participants with EKG displaying alterations not indicative of CD, seven had increased LAVI. LAVI is easy to incorporate into routine, does not increase the duration of the exam or patient discomfort, and along with the additional information from ECO and EKG, is useful in the follow up of CD patients, detecting early heart conditions.