The CECD’s Ongoing Research

There has been lack of research on Chagas disease in the United States. Most studies, including major clinical trials, have taken place in Latin America and Europe. The CECD and other institutions are currently working to build evidence to help us better understand the burden of Chagas disease and the best ways to provide treatment to those in need.

Following are recent studies by the CECD:

Prevalence of Chagas disease in the Latin American-born population of Los Angeles

Autochthonous transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in southern California

Prevalence of Chagas disease in a U.S. population of Latin America immigrants with conduction abnormalities on electrocardiogram

Safety profile of nifurtimox for treatment of Chagas disease in the United States

Tolerance of benznidazole in a United States Chagas disease clinic

The prevalence and impact of Chagas disease among Latin American immigrants with nonischemic cardiomyopathy in Los Angeles, California

Chagas disease awareness among Latin American immigrants living in Los Angeles, California

Estimating the burden of Chagas disease in the United States

Access to care for Chagas disease in the United States: A Health systems analysis.

Key International Chagas Disease Research

Below are major studies that have helped define the burden of Chagas disease and inform current treatment guidelines.

General

Chagas disease in Latin America: An epidemiological update based on 2010 estimates: World Health Organization; 2015.

Chagas disease. Rassi, Rassi and Marin-Neto. (This article provides a complete overview of Chagas disease, including diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment).

Treatment

Long-term outcomes of treating chronic Chagas disease with benznidazole versus no treatment.

Trypanocide treatment among adults with chronic Chagas disease living in Santa Fe City (Argentina), over a mean follow-up of 21 years: parasitological, serological, and clinical evolution.

Randomized Trial of Benznidazole for Chronic Chagas’ Cardiomyopathy.

Economic Impact

Global economic burden of Chagas disease: a computational simulation model.

Cost effectiveness of Chagas disease screening in Latin American migrants at primary healthcare centres in Europe: A Markov model analysis