Respiratory function and functional capacity in Chagas cardiomyopathy

摘要

Approximately 30% of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC) develop severe chronic cardiomyopathy, having heart failure (HF) as a common complication [1]. HF patients usually present dyspnea and fatigue as symptoms limiting the physical and daily life activities [1,2], The reduced functional capacity on ChC is associated with neurohumoral and inflammatory markers [3] which could improve the respiratory muscle weakness observed in HF patients. In this study we compared the respiratory function, muscle strength and endurance of patients with ChC and patients with HF for other etiologies as well as the relation with the functional capacity. We evaluated 45 subjects, 15 in each group of patients (ChC group and HF for other etiologies — HF group) and 15 healthy subjects (control group).