Heart failure survival score in patients with Chagas disease: correlation with functional variables

Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2012 Jun;65(6):538-43. doi: 10.1016/j.recesp.2011.12.019. Epub 2012 Apr 16.

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Chagas disease is a prevalent cause of heart failure in Latin America, and its prognosis is worse than other etiologies. The Heart Failure Survival Score has been used to assess prognosis in patients with heart failure; however, this score has not yet been studied in patients with Chagas cardiopathy.

Methods: The Heart Failure Survival Score was calculated in 55 patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction due to Chagas disease. Correlations were assessed between the Heart Failure Survival Score and variables obtained from, cardiopulmonary exercise tests, quality-of-life measures, and 6-minute walking tests.

Results: Patients were distributed among New York Heart Association classes II-IV; 89% were taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, 62% were taking beta-blockers, 86% were taking diuretics, and 74% were taking aldosterone receptor blockers. The mean Heart Failure Survival Score was 8.75 (0.80). The score correlated well with cardiopulmonary test variables such as peak oxygen uptake (0.662; P<.01), oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold (0.644; P<.01), ventilation carbon dioxide efficiency slope (-0.417; P<.01), oxygen pulse (0.375; P<.01), oxygen uptake efficiency slope (0.626; P<.01), 6-minute walking test (0.370; P<.01), left ventricle ejection fraction (0.650; P=.01), and left atrium diameter (-0.377; P<.01). There was also a borderline significant correlation between the Heart Failure Survival Score and quality of life (-0.283; P<.05).

Conclusions: In heart failure patients with Chagas disease, the Heart Failure Survival Score correlated well with the main prognostic functional test variables.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / complications
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / mortality*
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / physiopathology
  • Echocardiography
  • Exercise Test / methods
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Heart Failure / mortality*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life
  • Survival Analysis
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / drug therapy
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / etiology
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / mortality*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / physiopathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors