The importance of long-term follow-up data in Chagas disease: new challenges for old paradigms

Chagas disease affects >7 million people globally, with >400 000 of them residing outside endemic regions. Approximately 70 000 of these cases are in Spain, making it the second non-endemic country with the highest estimated number of cases, after the United States [1]. In recent decades, improvements in living conditions, globalization, and increased population mobility have significantly shaped the epidemiology of Chagas disease beyond endemic areas. Consequently, long-term follow-up data from cohorts in endemic regions—while historically valuable—may no longer accurately reflect the current landscape of the disease