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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/57555
A POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI INFECTION AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN OLD AGE (THE BAMBUI STUDY)
Author
Affilliation
Public Health and Ageing Research Group. René Rachou Institute. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
Public Health and Ageing Research Group. René Rachou Institute. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil/Health Service and Population Research Department. Institute of Psychiatry. King’s College London. London, UK
Public Health and Ageing Research Group. René Rachou Institute. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil/Federal University of Minas Gerais. Medical School. Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil
Public Health and Ageing Research Group. René Rachou Institute. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil/Federal University of Minas Gerais. Medical School. Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil
Federal University of Minas Gerais. Medical School. Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil
Health Service and Population Research Department. Institute of Psychiatry. King’s College London. London, UK
Health Service and Population Research Department. Institute of Psychiatry. King’s College London. London, UK
Public Health and Ageing Research Group. René Rachou Institute. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil/Health Service and Population Research Department. Institute of Psychiatry. King’s College London. London, UK
Public Health and Ageing Research Group. René Rachou Institute. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil/Federal University of Minas Gerais. Medical School. Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil
Public Health and Ageing Research Group. René Rachou Institute. Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil/Federal University of Minas Gerais. Medical School. Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil
Federal University of Minas Gerais. Medical School. Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil
Health Service and Population Research Department. Institute of Psychiatry. King’s College London. London, UK
Health Service and Population Research Department. Institute of Psychiatry. King’s College London. London, UK
Abstract
Background: Limited clinical data suggest that chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection, which causes Chagas' disease (ChD), is associated with cognitive impairment. This study investigated this association in a large population-based sample of older adults. Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study comprised 1,449 persons aged 6 60 years from a Brazilian endemic area (Bambu). Cognitive functioning was ascertained by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), considering its score in percentiles [<= 14 (<5th percentile), 15-22 (5th to <25th) and 6 23]. Hypothesized risk factors were T. cruzi infection, ChD-related electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities and use of digoxin medication. Potential confounders included depressive symptoms, smoking, stroke, hemoglobin, HDL cholesterol, blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, and use of psychoactive medication. Results: The prevalence of T. cruzi infection was 37.6%. There was a graded and independent association between infection and the MMSE score (adjusted odds ratios estimated by ordinal logistic regression = 1.99; 95% CI 1.43-2.76). No significant associations between the MMSE score and ECG abnormalities or digoxin medication use were found. Conclusions: This study provides for the first time epidemiological evidence of an association between T. cruzi infection and cognitive impairment which was not mediated by either ChD-related ECG abnormalities or digoxin medication use. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
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