Outcome of Chagas cardiomyopathy in comparison to ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Chagas cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease (IHD) are frequent causes of chronic systolic heart failure (CHF) in areas where the former is endemic. Nonetheless, a specific comparison of outcome and role of etiology of CHF failure has not been performed in patients with both conditions.

Methods: Two-hundred twenty two patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy and 79 with IHD with CHF were included in the study.