Association between Chagas disease and the occurrence of stroke: systematic review with meta-analysis.
Ana Clara de Jesus Santos, Juciane Fagundes Durães Benitez, Nayara Ragi Baldoni et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association between Chagas disease and stroke, including 7 studies. The analysis found that individuals with Chagas disease had a 1.92 times higher risk of stroke compared to those without it (RR = 1.92; 95%CI: 1.20-3.06). The certainty of evidence was rated as very low.
Key findings
- Individuals with Chagas disease had a 1.92 times higher risk of stroke (RR = 1.92; 95%CI: 1.20-3.06).
- Cross-sectional studies showed a higher prevalence of stroke in Chagas patients (PR = 1.63; 95%CI: 1.22-2.18).
- The review included 7 studies, with 6 contributing to the meta-analysis.
- The certainty of evidence was rated as very low according to the GRADE approach.
Why it matters
Understanding the association between Chagas disease and stroke is crucial for clinicians, as it may influence monitoring and management strategies for affected patients, particularly in endemic regions.
What to keep in mind
The evidence was rated as very low due to heterogeneity across study designs and the small number of studies included.