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Background: Heart failure (HF) imposes significant disability. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 is a generic instrument that measures disability. Although it has been used in HF, no previous study has investigated its measurement properties in this group., Objective: To assess the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, convergent, and discriminant validity of WHODAS 2.0 in individuals with HF., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study that included individuals with HF treated at the outpatient cardiology center. Data included sociodemographic and clinical (e.g., New York Heart Association - NYHA) characteristics, estimated functional capacity (Duke Activity Status Index - DASI), quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire - MLHFQ), and disability (the WHODAS 2.0 36-item version). We assessed associations, using Pearson's correlation coefficient or the Kruskal-Wallis test, between the WHODAS 2.0 scores and the MLHFQ, DASI, and NYHA. The WHODAS 2.0 results were collected again seven days after the initial assessment for reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient - ICC)., Results: Participants were 100 people with HF (M age = 57.8 ± 14 years, 57 % men), of whom 84 % were literate. The WHODAS 2.0 was reliable (ICC = 0.789) and had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.7 in all domains). Convergent validity was observed through moderate correlations with DASI and MLHFQ and discriminant validity with statistically different results according to NYHA classes., Conclusion: WHODAS 2.0 is a reliable, consistent, and valid instrument for measuring disability in individuals with HF. Further research is needed to evaluate other properties, such as its responsiveness to interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the other authors have any conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM) is increasingly prevalent in developed countries due to migration from endemic areas. Accurate risk stratification is crucial due to the variable clinical course of CCM., Objective: To analyze the association between Rassi score progression and electrophysiology study (EPS) changes in CCM patients., Methods: This prospective, observational cohort study involved CCM patients from two tertiary hospitals. Patients were classified as low, intermediate, or high risk based on the Rassi score. Data collected included demographics, clinical history, and diagnostic tests. EPS assessed AH, HH, and HV intervals, and inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias. Follow-ups were at 30 days and six-month intervals, with individualized discussions for cardiac implantable electric devices (CIED) based on EPS results., Results: Of 67 screened CCM patients, 59 underwent EPS. The mean Rassi score was 8.7 ± 4.5 points, with 33.8 % low, 38.9 % intermediate, and 27.1 % high risk. EPS abnormalities were found in 57.6 % of patients, mainly VT/VF (52.5 %). Most induced ventricular arrhythmias were monomorphic VT (80.7 %). A significant association was found between Rassi score risk classification and EPS changes (OR = 1.88 95 %CI: 1.15-3.06 p = 0.02). Higher Rassi scores correlated with VT presence on EPS (p = 0.0036). Syncope/pre-syncope had an OR 2.45 95 %CI:1.21-4.94; p = 0.012, independent of Rassi risk. Decreased ejection fraction was linked to EPS changes (p = 0.04)., Conclusion: EPS changes among CCM was associated with progression of the Rassi score, indicating its utility as a stratification tool. Factors such as the presence of syncope/pre-syncope, decreased LVEF and wall motion abnormalities emerged as independent predictors within Rassi scores for changes in EPS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have declared that no competing interests exist related to this project., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)