The "obesity paradox" in an elderly population with a high prevalence of Chagas disease: the 10-year follow-up of the Bambuí (Brazil) Cohort Study of Aging.

Chagas disease (ChD) affects approximately 10 million individuals in Latin America and, due to immigration it is also of increasing importance in North America and Europe. Chronic cardiomyopathy, observed in 20–40% of the cases, is the most important and lethal complication of ChD. Control of the transmission by the use of insecticides and aging of the individuals infected in early adulthood are making ChD a health burden in the elderly in old endemic areas. As the prevalence of overweight/obesity in this age group has been increasing, the two conditions are likely to co-exist in older individuals.

The “obesity paradox” (i.e., longer survival of overweight/obese individuals in comparison to lean ones) has been described in older adults with and without cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The etiology of heart disease (HD) might have influence on the phenomenon. Whether overweight/obesity are protective determinants of mortality in subjects with Chagas disease (ChD) is still unknown.