INTRODUCTION:

Rassi score (NYHA functional class III/IV HF [5 points], cardiomegaly [5 points], contractions abnormalities [3 points], non-sustained ventricular tachycardia [3 points], low amplitude QRS [2 points] and male sex [2 points]) is used in the clinic for risk stratification due to cardiovascular death in patients with Chagas disease (P-CD). Whether this score has any role in identifying patients at risk of complex ventricular arrhythmias has not been determined.

OBJECTIVE:

Assess whether there is an association between Rassi score and the presence of potentially malignant complex ventricular arrhythmias in P-CD.

METHODS:

79 P-CD (34 men, age 61±11 years-old), consecutively referred for 24h-Holter were divided into 2 groups: low risk Rassi score (57 P, 0-6 points) and medium-high risk (22 P, 7-20 points). The amount and complexity of ventricular arrhythmia (> 30/ h, ventricular tachycardia [VT]), LVEF, heart rate turbulence (HRT) indexes (turbulence onset [TO] and turbulence slope [TS]) and HRT category (0 [without disautonomy], 1 and/or 2 [presence of disautonomy]) were evaluated.

RESULTS:

Compared to P-CD with low risk score, those with medium-high risk had more ventricular arrhythmias, lower LVEF, worse HRT indexes and more HRT categories 1 and/or 2 (see table below).

CONCLUSIONS:

1) P-CD and Rassi score of medium to high risk have a greater amount of ventricular arrhythmias; 2) These findings can be explained by the presence of greater degree of disautonomy, assessed by HRT, and by the lower LVEF; 3) Prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings in clinical practice.