Dysautonomia and ventricular dysfunction in the indeterminate form of Chagas disease.

Background: The associations between autonomic function and biventricular function in patients with the indeterminate form of Chagas disease remains to be elucidated.

Methods: In 42 asymptomatic patients and 19 healthy volunteers, the autonomic function was assessed by time domain indices of heart rate variability (HRV), analyzed for 24 h; the right ventricular function was assessed by fraction area change, right ventricle shortening, and systolic excursion of the tricuspid valve; and the left ventricular function was assessed by ejection fraction and transmitral flow velocities. Data were expressed as mean+/-SD or medians (including the lower quartile and upper quartile).