Mffle. Costa et al., Ageing with Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a community where the transmission has been interrupted: the Bambui Health and Ageing Study (BHAS), INT J EPID, 30(4), 2001, pp. 887-893
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health","Medical Research General Topics
Background The prevalence of Chagas' disease is decreasing in Brazil. Due t
o cohort effect, the disease might remain a public health problem for some
time among older individuals. The present burden of Trypanosoma cruzi infec
tion for the elderly living in areas where the transmission has been interr
upted has not been studied.
Methods The prevalence of T cruzi infection and its association with indica
tors of health status and health services use were assessed among the elder
ly living in one of the oldest endemic areas in Brazil (Bambui, MG). Seropo
sitivity was determined by blood tests (IHA and ELISA) performed in 85.6% o
f all residents aged 60+ (1496/1742) and in 83.1% of sampled residents aged
5-59 years (1212/1458).
Results Seropositivity showed a cohort effect, with no cases below 20 years
and high prevalence among those aged 60+ years (37.7%). After adjustment f
or confounders, seropositivity was associated with self-rated health reason
able (OR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.03-1.98) and bad/very bad (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.
30-2.75), staying in bed in past 2 weeks (OR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.21-2.92), ho
spitalization in past 12 months (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.05-1.89) and use of 5
+ prescribed medications in past 3 months (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.15-2.59).
Implications Our results are an example of how survival of individuals with
past exposure to infectious disease may lead to a different picture of age
ing in the developing world. Policy makers need to consider the extra burde
n imposed by increasing rates of non-infectious disease among the elderly (
as observed in Brazil) including the consequences of T cruzi infection in a
reas where the infection was widespread in the past.