Hasil untuk "Internal medicine"

Eri Ohta, Eri Ohta, Etsuko Okada et al.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare, potentially life-threatening inflammatory disease characterized by neutrophilic pustules and systemic inflammation. We report a case of severe GPP triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection in a 46-year-old woman with a long history of psoriasis. Eleven days after recovery from COVID-19 pneumonia, she developed widespread pustules and fever. Histopathology revealed subcorneal spongiform pustules and dermal neutrophilic infiltration consistent with GPP. Systemic corticosteroids followed by etretinate and deucravacitinib achieved complete remission. A literature review identified 11 infection- and 10 vaccine-related GPP cases. Compared with vaccine-associated cases, infection-related flares showed longer latency and higher corticosteroid use. Mechanistically, both SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination may be associated with IL-36 axis activation, potentially via spike protein–driven, Toll-like receptor–mediated innate immune signaling. This case highlights that distinct immune kinetics may underlie infection- and vaccine-related GPP, while supporting a putative role of IL-36–driven inflammation in COVID-19–associated disease exacerbation.

Christian Basile, Stefan D. Anker, Gianluigi Savarese

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) exhibits significant sex-based differences in clinical presentation, management, and outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate these differences using data from the Swedish Heart Failure Registry (SwedeHF). We analyzed 65,605 patients with HFrEF (EF <40%) from the SwedeHF registry. Baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes were compared between females and males. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of treatment use. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the risk of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization, adjusting for demographic and clinical variables. Odds ratios (OR) were reported for treatment use, and hazard ratios (HR) were used for outcome analyses. Females (29.0%) were older than males and had a higher prevalence of hypertension (61.3% vs 49.8%) and valvular disease (17.2% vs 11.1%), while males had a higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease (70.5% vs 40.1%) and diabetes (31.6% vs 28.4%). Males were less likely to receive beta-blockers (OR: 0.76, 95% CI 0.71-0.81), and more likely to receive sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (OR: 1.27, 95% CI 1.17-1.38) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators/cardiac resynchronization therapy (OR: 1.41, 95% CI 1.30-1.52). During a median follow-up of 2.1 years, males had a higher risk of the composite outcome of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization (HR: 1.19, 95% CI 1.16-1.22), cardiovascular death (HR: 1.33, 95% CI 1.28-1.37), and HF hospitalization (HR: 1.16, 95% CI 1.12-1.19). In this large cohort of patients with HFrEF, males had worse outcomes across all major cardiovascular endpoints. These findings highlight the need for tailored strategies to address sex-based disparities in HF management and improve outcomes for both sexes.

Omid Seidizadeh, Luciano Baronciani, Flora Peyvandi

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder characterized by defects in the quantity or function of the von Willebrand factor (VWF). The diagnosis of VWD is complex, requiring a battery of tests to evaluate the amount, functions, and multimeric structure of the VWF glycoprotein. The diagnosis can also be accomplished or confirmed by sequencing the VWF gene (VWF). Genetic testing of VWF has been around for 4 decades following the cloning of VWF, and nowadays, it has been integrated into the diagnostic panel of VWD. With the introduction of next-generation sequencing, genetic analysis of the VWF has become more practical than it was in the past, when Sanger sequencing was used. A number of laboratories have applied or started to use genetic testing with next-generation sequencing for VWD diagnosis. Considering the increasing application of genetic testing in VWD and the wide availability and decreasing cost of gene sequencing, we sought to discuss the challenges and considerations involved in applying genetic testing to VWD.

Jing Tian, Yan Dong, Zhongping Xu et al.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to analyze the association between TyG-BMI and 365-day mortality in critically ill patients with CHD.MethodsPatient data were extracted from the MIMIC-IV database. All patients were categorized into 3 groups based on TyG-BMI index: Low TyG-BMI index group, Medium TyG-BMI index group, and High TyG-BMI index group. Outcomes included primary and secondary outcomes, with the primary outcome being 365-day mortality and the secondary outcomes being hospital survival, intensive care unit (ICU) survival, and 28-day, 90-day, and 180-day mortality. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare the outcomes of the three groups. The relationship between TyG-BMI index and 365-day mortality was assessed using multivariate Cox proportional risk regression models and restricted cubic spline curves (RCS).Results889 critically ill patients with CHD were analyzed. Among them, 600 (67.50%) were male patients with a mean age of 68.37 years and 289 (32.50%) were female patients with a mean age of 73.91 years. Patients with a medium TyG-BMI index had the best 365-day prognostic outcome and the highest survival rate compared with patients in the Low and High TyG-BMI index groups [201 (67.68%) vs. 166 (56.08%), 188 (63.51%); P=0.013]. After fully adjusted modeling analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) for 365-day mortality was found to be 0.71 (95% CI 0.54-0.93, P=0.012) for the Medium TyG-BMI index group. Meanwhile, RCS analysis showed an L-shaped relationship between TyG-BMI index and 365-day mortality.ConclusionsThe TyG-BMI index is significantly associated with 365-day mortality in patients with severe CHD.

Feng Zhang, Long Cheng

AimsThis research investigated menopausal women older than 50 years to find whether there were any independent relationships between the duration of sleep they got and their prevalence of depression.MethodsNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets from 2011-2020 were utilized in a cross-sectional study. Using multivariate linear regression models, the linear relationship between sleep duration and depression in menopausal women was investigated. Fitted smoothing curves and thresholds impact evaluation were used to investigate the nonlinear relationship. Then, subgroup analyses were performed according to smoking, drinking alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and moderate activities.ResultsThis population-based study included a total of 3,897 menopausal women (mean age 65.47 ± 9.06 years) aged≥50 years; 3,159 had a depression score &lt;10, and 738 had a depression score≥10. After controlling for all covariates, the prevalence of depression was 17% higher among participants with short sleep duration [OR=1.17, 95%CI=(0.65, 1.70), P&lt;0.0001] and 86% [OR=1.86, 95%CI=(1.05, 2.66), P&lt;0.0001] compared to participants with normal sleep duration. In subgroup analyses stratified by smoking and diabetes, the sleep duration and depression scores of non-smokers [β=-0.18, 95%CI= (-0.33, -0.02), P=0.0241] and diabetics were independently negatively correlated [β=-0.32, 95%CI= (-0.63, -0.01), P=0.0416]. Using a two-segment linear regression model, we discovered a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and depression scores with an inflection point of 7.5 hours. Less than 7.5 hours of sleep was associated with an increased risk of developing depression [β=-0.81, 95%CI= (-1.05, -0.57), P&lt;0.001]. However, sleeping more than 7.5 hours per night increased the risk of depression considerably [β=0.80, 95%CI= (0.51, 1.08), P&lt;0.001].ConclusionsDepression is associated with sleep duration in menopausal women. Insufficient or excessive sleep may increase the risk of depression in menopausal women.

Paul Valensi

Abstract Prevalence of heart failure (HF) and diabetes are markedly increasing globally. In a population of HF patients, approximately 40% have diabetes which is associated with a more severe HF, poorer cardiovascular outcomes and higher hospitalization rates for HF than HF patients without diabetes. Similar trends were shown in HF patients with prediabetes. In addition, the association between HF and renal function decline was demonstrated in patients with or without diabetes. However, the exact prevalence of dysglycemia in HF patients requires further investigation aiming to clarify the most accurate test to detect dysglycemia in this population. The relationship between HF and diabetes is complex and probably bidirectional. In one way, patients with diabetes have a more than two-fold risk of developing incident HF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction than those without diabetes. In the other way, patients with HF, when compared with those without HF, show an increased risk for the onset of diabetes due to several mechanisms including insulin resistance (IR), which makes HF emerging as a precursor for diabetes development. This article provides epidemiological evidence of undetected dysglycemia (prediabetes or diabetes) in HF patients and reviews the pathophysiological mechanisms which favor the development of IR and the risks associated with these disorders in HF patients. This review also offers a discussion of various strategies for the prevention of diabetes in HF patients, based first on fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c measurement and if normal on an oral glucose tolerance test as diagnostic tools for prediabetes and unknown diabetes that should be performed more extensively in those patients. It discusses the implementation of diabetes prevention measures and well-structured management programs for HF patients who are generally overweight or obese, as well as current pharmacotherapeutic options for prediabetes, including sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors which are among the pillars of HF treatment and which recently showed a benefit in the reduction of incident diabetes in HF patients. Thus, there is an urgent need of routine screening for dysglycemia in all HF patients, which should contribute to reduce the incidence of diabetes and to treat earlier diabetes when already present.

Nils Wetzstein, Margo Diricks, Thomas B. Anton et al.

Abstract Background The Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) comprises the most frequent non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in Central Europe and currently includes twelve species. M. avium (MAV), M. intracellulare subsp. intracellulare (MINT), and M. intracellulare subsp. chimaera (MCH) are clinically most relevant. However, the population structure and genomic landscape of MAC linked with potential pathobiological differences remain little investigated. Methods Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on a multi-national set of MAC isolates from Germany, France, and Switzerland. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted, as well as plasmids, resistance, and virulence genes predicted from WGS data. Data was set into a global context with publicly available sequences. Finally, detailed clinical characteristics were associated with genomic data in a subset of the cohort. Results Overall, 610 isolates from 465 patients were included. The majority could be assigned to MAV (n = 386), MCH (n = 111), and MINT (n = 77). We demonstrate clustering with less than 12 SNPs distance of isolates obtained from different patients in all major MAC species and the identification of trans-European or even trans-continental clusters when set into relation with 1307 public sequences. However, none of our MCH isolates clustered closely with the heater-cooler unit outbreak strain Zuerich-1. Known plasmids were detected in MAV (325/1076, 30.2%), MINT (62/327, 19.0%), and almost all MCH-isolates (457/463, 98.7%). Predicted resistance to aminoglycosides or macrolides was rare. Overall, there was no direct link between phylogenomic grouping and clinical manifestations, but MCH and MINT were rarely found in patients with extra-pulmonary disease (OR 0.12 95% CI 0.04–0.28, p < 0.001 and OR 0.11 95% CI 0.02–0.4, p = 0.004, respectively) and MCH was negatively associated with fulfillment of the ATS criteria when isolated from respiratory samples (OR 0.28 95% CI 0.09-0.7, p = 0.011). With 14 out of 43 patients with available serial isolates, co-infections or co-colonizations with different strains or even species of the MAC were frequent (32.6%). Conclusions This study demonstrates clustering and the presence of plasmids in a large proportion of MAC isolates in Europe and in a global context. Future studies need to urgently define potential ways of transmission of MAC isolates and the potential involvement of plasmids in virulence.

Lúcio G. Lustosa, David Rudoler, Olga Theou et al.

Aim The purpose of this analysis was to report the prevalence of falls and falls-related injuries among those reporting differ-ent volumes of weekly sedentary time, and to understand the association of sedentary time and falls, accounting for functional fitness. Methods Baseline and first follow-up data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CSLA) were analyzed (n=22,942). Participants self-reported whether they had a fall in the past 12 months (at baseline) and whether they had an injury that was a result of a fall (follow-up). In-home interviews collected self-reported leisure sedentary time using the Physical Activity Scale for Elderly. Functional fitness was assessed using grip strength, timed-up-and-go, and chair rise tests during clinic visits. Results The prevalence of falls was higher among those who reported higher sedentary time. For example, among males aged 65 and older who reported lower sedentary time (<1,080 min/week), the prevalence of falls in the past 12 months (at baseline) was 7.8% compared to 9.8% in those reporting higher sedentary time. The odds of reporting a fall (at baseline) was 21% higher in those who reported higher sedentary time (OR: 1.21; 95%CI: 1.11–1.33) in adjusted models. No associations were found between sedentary time and injuries due to a fall. Conclusions Reporting high volumes of sedentary time may increase the risk of falls. Future research using device-based estimates of total sedentary time and breaks in sedentary time is needed to further elucidate this association.

Martha R. Alvarez S, Ronald G. García, Federico Arturo Silva S

La cefalea por uso excesivo de medicamentos (CUEM) se define como la presencia de cefalea diaria o casi diaria (15 días o más de evolución), que se produce en pacientes con antecedente de cefalea primaria que usan excesivamente medicamentos. Está entidad está asociada a coomorbilidad psiquiátrica, por lo que las características clínicas se hacen más complejas con el paso del tiempo. El manejo fundamental se basa en la suspensión del medicamento sobre el que se centra el abuso (analgésicos, ergotamina, triptanes y opioides). Sin embargo, es necesario tomar en consideración que la suspensión de estos medicamentos puede asociarse a otros problemas como “cefalea de rebote”, síndrome de abstinencia o convulsiones epilépticas; incrementando las tasas de recaída en estos pacientes.

Vinicius de Maria Gadotti, Flavia Tasmin Techera Antunes, Gerald W. Zamponi

Abstract Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is known to produce systemic analgesia that involves CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. However, there is compelling evidence that Δ9-THC can potently inhibit Cav3.2T-type calcium channels which are highly expressed in dorsal root ganglion neurons and in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Here, we investigated whether spinal analgesia produced by Δ9-THC involves Cav3.2 channels vis a vis cannabinoid receptors. We show that spinally delivered Δ9-THC produced dose-dependent and long-lasting mechanical anti-hyperalgesia in neuropathic mice, and showed potent analgesic effects in models of inflammatory pain induced by formalin or Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) injection into the hind paw, with the latter showing no overt sex differences. The Δ9-THC mediated reversal of thermal hyperalgesia in the CFA model was abolished in Cav3.2 null mice, but was unaltered in CB1 and CB2 null animals. Hence, the analgesic effects of spinally delivered Δ9-THC are due to an action on T-type calcium channels, rather than activation of spinal cannabinoid receptors.

Paul Carrillo-Mora, Yesenia Lugo Rodríguez, Kenia F. Franyutti-Prado et al.

It is increasingly common for healthy people to seek means to improve their alertness, or to try to get better their performance in some cognitive functions; this with the aim of increasing their performance and productivity in the academic or work environment. Several stimulant drugs have been used for many decades and have recently become very popular especially among young people. However, general practitioners and even specialists are rarely informed of their real benefits or potential adverse effects. This review provides an updated overview of the effects (positive and adverse) of some stimulant drugs that have been used to maintain alertness or improve cognitive performance in healthy subjects. For stimulant drugs, the positive effects improving the subjective symptoms of sleep deprivation are well established. However, the cognitive effects of stimulant drugs are still highly variable and inconsistent, since there are few studies that have been carried out with adequate methodological design. In addition, there are several adverse effects, from mild to severe that can be observed and there is a concern of potential addiction effect to some of them. Some stimulant drugs can improve alertness, but their positive effects improving cognition are not yet fully proven.

J. Li

Gilad Halpert, Howard Amital, Yehuda Shoenfeld

Frank Petzke, Frietjof Bock, Michael Hüppe et al.

Introduction:. The opioid epidemic in North America challenges national guidelines worldwide to define the importance of opioids for the management of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP). Methods:. The second update of the German guidelines on long-term opioid therapy for CNCP was developed by 26 scientific associations and 2 patient self-help organizations. A systematic literature search in CENTRAL, Medline, and Scopus (to May 2019) was performed. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials and open-label extension studies with opioids for CNCP were conducted. Levels of evidence were assigned according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine classification system. The formulation and strength of recommendations were established by multistep formalized procedures to reach a consensus according to German Association of the Medical Scientific Societies regulations. The guidelines underwent external review by 4 experts and public commentary. Results:. Opioids are one drug-based treatment option for short- (4–12 weeks), intermediate- (13–26 weeks), and long-term (>26 weeks) therapy of chronic pain in osteoarthritis, diabetic polyneuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and low back pain. Contraindications are primary headaches, functional somatic syndromes, and mental disorders with the (cardinal) symptom of pain. For specified other clinical pain conditions, short- and long-term therapy with opioids should be evaluated on an individual basis. Long-term therapy with opioids is associated with relevant risks. Conclusion:. Responsible application of opioids requires consideration of possible indications and contraindications, as well as regular assessment of clinical response and adverse effects. Neither uncritical opioid prescription nor general rejection of opioids is justified in patients with CNCP.

Junhai Pan, Xiaolong Ge, Wei Zhou et al.

Abstract Background Postoperative complications, especially postoperative pancreatic fistulas, remain the major concern following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Mesh-reinforced pancreatic anastomoses, including pancreatojejunostomy (PJ) and pancreatogastrostomy (PG), are a new effective technique in PD. This study was conducted to analyze the safety and efficacy of this new technique and to compare the results of mesh-reinforced PJ vs PG. Methods A total of 110 patients who underwent PD between August 2005 and January 2016 were eligible in this study. Perioperative and postoperative data of patients with a mesh-reinforced technique were analyzed. Data were also grouped according to the procedure performed: mesh-reinforced PJ and mesh-reinforced PG. Results Among patients undergoing PD with the mesh-reinforced technique, 42 had postoperative complications, and the comprehensive complication index (CCI) was 32.7 ± 2.5. Only 10% of patients had pancreatic fistula; three were grade A, six were grade B, and two were grade C. Biliary fistula occurred in only 8.2% of patients. Patients undergoing mesh-reinforced PG showed a significantly lower rate of CCI than did mesh-reinforced PJ patients (27.0 ± 2.1 vs 37.0 ± 3.9, p < 0.05). The mesh-reinforced PG was also favored over mesh-reinforced PJ because of significant differences in intra-abdominal fluid collection (5.9% vs 18.6%, p < 0.05) and delayed gastric emptying (3.9% vs 15.3%, p < 0.05). Conclusions PD with the mesh-reinforced technique was a safe and effective method of decreasing postoperative pancreatic fistula. Compared with mesh-reinforced PJ, mesh-reinforced PG did not show significant differences in the rates of pancreatic fistula or biliary fistula. However, CCI, intra-abdominal fluid collection, and delayed gastric emptying were significantly reduced in patients with mesh-reinforced PG.

Hwa-Young Lee, Seung-Wook Kim, Geum-Hwa Lee et al.

Abstract For this study, we examined the effects of curcumin against acute and chronic stress, paying specific attention to ROS. We also aimed to clarify the differences between acute and chronic stress conditions. We investigated the effects of curcumin against acute stress (once/1 day CCl4 treatment) and chronic-stress (every other day/4week CCl4 treatment). Compared with acute stress, in which the antioxidant system functioned properly and aspartate transaminase (AST) and ROS production increased, chronic stress increased AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatic enzymes, and ROS more significantly, and the antioxidant system became impaired. We also found that ER-originated ROS accumulated in the chronic model, another difference between the two conditions. ER stress was induced consistently, and oxidative intra-ER protein folding status, representatively PDI, was impaired, especially in chronic stress. The PDI-associated client protein hepatic apoB accumulated with the PDI-binding status in chronic stress, and curcumin recovered the altered ER folding status, regulating ER stress and the resultant hepatic dyslipidemia. Throughout this study, curcumin and curcumin-rich Curcuma longa L. extract promoted recovery from CCl4-induced hepatic toxicity in both stress conditions. For both stress-associated hepatic dyslipidemia, curcumin and Curcuma longa L. extract might be recommendable to recover liver activity.

Wan Zhou, Shan-Dong Ye

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and to investigate the intervention effect of vitamin D. 145 subjects were assigned to a control group (Group NC), T2DM group (Group DM1), and T2DM complicated with LEAD group (Group DM2); then Group DM2 were randomly divided into Group DM3 who received oral hypoglycemic agents and Group DM4 who received oral hypoglycemic drugs and vitamin D3 therapy. Compared to Group NC, 25(OH)D was significantly lower in Group DM2 and marginally lower in Group DM1. In contrast to baseline and Group DM3, 25(OH)D rose while low density lipoprotein (LDL), retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), and HbA1c significantly lowered in Group DM4. Statistical analysis revealed that 25(OH)D had a negative correlation with RBP4, duration, HbA1c, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). LDL, systolic blood pressure (SBP), FPG, and smoking were risk factors of LEAD while high density lipoprotein (HDL) and 25(OH)D were protective ones. Therefore, we deduced that low level of 25(OH)D is significantly associated with the occurrence of T2DM complicated with LEAD.

N. A. Khramtsova, A. A. Dzizinsky

Aim. To study renal function and its association with cardiovascular risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Material and methods. The study included 257 RA patients aged 29—69 years. Results. Reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) &lt;60 ml/min was observed in 146 (56,8 %) RA patients. Renal dysfunction was associated with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy (OR 24,5; p&lt;0,01), microalbuminuria (OR 17,8; p&lt;0,01), high RA activity by DAS 28 (OR 6,1; p&lt;0,01), pulse blood pressure (PBP) &gt;55 mm Hg (OR 4,38; p&lt;0,01), arterial hypertension (AH) (OR 3,15; p&lt;0,01), atherogenic dyslipidemia (DLP) (OR 2,83; p&lt;0,01), RA duration &gt;10 years (OR 2,8; p&lt;0,01), hyperglycaemia (OR 2,35; p&lt;0,05), age &gt;50 years (OR 2,17; p&lt;0,01) and “non-dipper” BP profile (OR 1,85; p&lt;0,05). GFR negatively correlated with vascular stiffness index (r=-0,23; p&lt;0,01), LV myocardial mass index (r=-0,2; p&lt;0,05), C-reactive protein level (r=-0,31; p&lt;0,01), RA activity by DAS 28 (r=-0,29; p&lt;0,01), age (r=-0,33; p&lt;0,01), RA duration (r=-0,29; p&lt;0,01), intima-media thickness (IMT) (r=-0,28; p&lt;0,01), mean circadian systolic BP level (r=-0,19; p&lt;0,05) and PBP level (r=-0,31; p&lt;0,01), as well as SCORE-assessed cardiovascular risk level (r=-0,17; p&lt;0,05). Conclusion. In RA, GFR reduction is a complication of chronic inflammation and long-term NSAID therapy. It is associated with AH, atherogenic DLP, and high cardiovascular risk.

A. Sarvazyan, V. Egorov, J.S. Son et al.

Affordability of healthcare is highly limited by its skyrocketing cost. Access to screening and diagnostic medical equipment and medicine in developing countries is inadequate for the majority of the population. There is a tremendous worldwide need to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage. These needs must be balanced by the ability of countries to provide breast cancer screening technology to their populations. We reviewed the diagnostic accuracy, procedure cost and cost-effectiveness of currently available technique for breast screening and diagnosis including clinical breast examination, mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, biopsy and a new modality for cancer diagnostics termed elasticity imaging that has emerged in the last decade. Clinical results demonstrate that elasticity imaging even in its simplest and least sophisticated versions, like tactile imaging, has significant diagnostic potential comparable and exceeding that of conventional imaging techniques. In view of many countries with limited resources, effective yet less expensive modes of screening must be considered worldwide. The tactile imaging is one method that has the potential to provide cost-effective breast cancer screening and diagnostics.

Edison Reis Lopes, Mara Virgínia Lellis Marçal, Carlos Siade et al.

Realizou-se estudo comparativo da freqüência e etiologia das mortes súbitas ocorridas no Município de Uberaba, Minas Gerais, em maiores de 15 anos de idade, nos anos de 1980 e de 1990, com o objetivo fundamental de analisar a freqüência atual do óbito súbito em nossa região e o eventual papel de medidas profiláticas e terapêuticas na morte súbita por doença de Chagas. Dos 1226 óbitos de 1980, 54 (4,4%) foram súbitos e destes, 13 (24,1%) etiologia atribuída à doença de Chagas. Em 1990foram pesquisados 1740 óbitos, dos quais 44 (2,5%) foram súbitos; destes, somente 3 (6,8%) devidos â tripanosomose cruzi. Os resultados indicam redução significativa na freqüência tanto da morte súbita em geral, como daquela devida à doença de Chagas, no ano de 1990, em relação ao de 1980, discutindo-se suas prováveis razões.