Análise Soroepidemiológica da doença de Chagas em pessoas idosas residentes no estado de Alagoas, Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, remains an important public health problem, especially in Latin American countries. In Brazil, most cases are in the chronic phase, often asymptomatic, which contributes to underreporting and delays in diagnosis. In the state of Alagoas, the inclusion of the chronic form in the list of notifiable diseases has increased the visibility of cases. The present study aimed to evaluate the seroepidemiology of Chagas disease in elderly individuals residing in municipalities of the state of Alagoas, as well as to analyze the distribution of positive cases. For this purpose, serum samples from 412 elderly individuals from different municipalities in the state were analyzed to detect anti-T. cruzi IgG antibodies, using different methodologies to ensure greater reliability of the results. Sociodemographic, clinical, and geographic variables of seropositive individuals were also analyzed. The results showed the presence of positive cases in 3.15% of the elderly evaluated, with a predominance among females. Most positive individuals lived in urban areas, reflecting a shift in the epidemiological profile of the disease. Comorbidities among the individuals were also assessed, with systemic arterial hypertension being the most prevalent. These findings reinforce the persistence of Chagas disease among the elderly, mainly associated with the chronic phase and the presence of non-communicable chronic diseases. The results of this study suggest that Chagas disease remains a significant public health challenge due to its asymptomatic nature, which hinders early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.