Evidence mapPaperPMID 42406824Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2026

Chagas Disease in northern Minas Gerais: Clinical and epidemiological features of patients at a pioneering specialized outpatient service.

Luciano Freitas Fernandes, Gláucia Rejanny Teixeira Fernandes, Ester Cerdeira Sabino, Sâmara Fernandes Leite, Mayra Domingues Cardoso, Ana Julia Torres Bonfim Rocha, Ana Clara de Jesus Santos, Ana Beatriz Cardoso Sena, Dardiane Santos Cruz, Ariela Mota Ferreira and 1 more

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Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Luciano Freitas FernandesUniversity of Santa Casa de Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8888-2957
Gláucia Rejanny Teixeira FernandesGraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Ester Cerdeira SabinoInstitute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), University of São Paulo Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sâmara Fernandes LeiteGraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Mayra Domingues CardosoState University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Ana Julia Torres Bonfim RochaState University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Ana Clara de Jesus SantosGraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Ana Beatriz Cardoso SenaGraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Dardiane Santos CruzGraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Ariela Mota FerreiraUniversity of Santa Casa de Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Israel MolinaGraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (UNIMONTES), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionChagas Disease (CD) remains a persistent public health problem in Brazil, particularly in historically hyperendemic regions such as northern Minas Gerais. Despite the sustained burden of transmission and chronic disease, access to specialized care for CD continues to be limited. This study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients attending a newly established specialized CD outpatient clinic and to contextualize its role within the regional hyperendemic scenario.

methodsA descriptive cross-sectional assessment was conducted using routinely collected clinical information from medical records of patients who attended the service between October 2022 and September 2024. Data extraction combined review of paper and electronic records with verification through on-site clinical documentation.

resultsOver the two-year period, the clinic experienced a substantial increase in demand. In the first year, 274 patients received care, whereas in the second year this number rose to 657-an increase of 239.7%. Overall, 931 patients attended the service. The majority of patients were female, with a mean age of 58 (± 11.1) years, and had the indeterminate form of CD (47.2%). A total of 630 patients (68.5%) underwent etiological treatment for the disease. Among these, 309 received prescriptions directly from the outpatient clinic, and 208 out of them (67.3%) experienced adverse drug reactions. The clinic provides care for the northern macro-region of Minas Gerais, encompassing 86 municipalities: 45 (52%) of these referred patients during the study period. Referral patterns highlighted contrasting municipal profiles: Montes Claros was the largest source of patients.

conclusionThe findings demonstrate the growing demand for specialized CD care and underscore the importance of dedicated services in regions where primary care lacks structured clinical pathways for CD management. The clinic offers not only access to etiological treatment and longitudinal follow-up but also a reproducible model for expanding equitable care for neglected diseases in other endemic settings.

Indexed as

Chagas DiseaseAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAmbulatory CareAmbulatory Care FacilitiesBrazilCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID42406824
PMCPMC13354082

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.