Effectiveness of neurolysis as a treatment for complications of leprosy neuritis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Complications of leprosy neuritis are considered serious and apparent, with the potential to disable and/or limit individuals. These complications affect not only a patient's physical functioning, but also their family and social lives, while directly impacting the ability to work and/or maintain financial independence, subsequently interfering with their overall quality of life. The present review, therefore, aimed to analyze the effectiveness of neurolysis as an alternative treatment for the complications associated with leprosy neuritis. METHODS: The present review was performed based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, in an effort to answer the following research question: what is the effectiveness of neurolysis as a treatment for leprosy neuritis complications? This research question was defined using the patient-intervention-outcome (PIO) framework, where leprosy represents 'P', neurolysis for 'I', and neuropathic pain/motor function/sensorial function/physical disability/quality of life for 'O'. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials and prospective observational cohort studies were included in the present review, with no time or date restrictions. RESULTS: The present review included 1 randomized clinical trial and 10 prospective studies, published between 1976 and 2020. All of the outcomes showed improvement, with relief from neuropathic pain being the primary finding. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence obtained in the present review suggested that neurolysis is an effective alternative for the treatment of physical disabilities, the recovery of sensory and motor function, the restoration of quality of life, and neuropathic pain relief.

Capacitação profissional em hanseníase na Atenção Primária à Saúde: protocolo de revisão de escopo / Professional training in leprosy in Primary Health Care: a scoping review protocol

OBJETIVO: Descrever a sistematização do desenvolvimento de uma revisão de escopo para mapear evidências científicas relativas à capacitação profissional da equipe de assistência ao paciente em hanseníase na Atenção Primária à Saúde. MÉTODO: Fundamentar-se-á nas recomendações do Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses - Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), atendendo às orientações do Instituto Joanna Briggs. Espera-se que as evidências encontradas na literatura nacional e internacional possam direcionar profissionais e gestores na implementação de ações de controle e eliminação da hanseníase como problema de saúde pública, por meio da educação.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the systematization of a scoping review to map scientific evidence related to the professional training of the members of the leprosy primary health care team. METHOD: The recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will be met, as well as the Joanna Briggs Institute's guidelines. It is expected that the evidence found in the national and international literature can guide professionals and managers in implementing actions to control and eliminate leprosy, a public health problem, through education.

Effectiveness of neurolysis as a treatment for complications of leprosy neuritis: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Background: Complications of leprosy neuritis are considered serious and apparent, with the potential to disable and/or limit individuals. These complications affect not only a patient's physical functioning, but also their family and social lives, while directly impacting the ability to work and/or maintain financial independence, subsequently interfering with their overall quality of life. The present review, therefore, aimed to analyze the effectiveness of neurolysis as an alternative treatment for the complications associated with leprosy neuritis. Methods: The present review was performed based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, in an effort to answer the following research question: what is the effectiveness of neurolysis as a treatment for leprosy neuritis complications? This research question was defined using the patient-intervention-outcome (PIO) framework, where leprosy represents 'P', neurolysis for 'I', and neuropathic pain/motor function/sensorial function/physical disability/quality of life for 'O'. Randomized and non-randomized clinical trials and prospective observational cohort studies were included in the present review, with no time or date restrictions. Results: The present review included 1 randomized clinical trial and 10 prospective studies, published between 1976 and 2020. All of the outcomes showed improvement, with relief from neuropathic pain being the primary finding. Conclusions: The evidence obtained in the present review suggested that neurolysis is an effective alternative for the treatment of physical disabilities, the recovery of sensory and motor function, the restoration of quality of life, and neuropathic pain relief.

Inequality of gender, age and disabilities due to leprosy and trends in a hyperendemic metropolis: Evidence from an eleven-year time series study in Central-West Brazil.

The present study aimed to investigate the epidemiological situation of leprosy (Hansen's Disease), in a hyperendemic metropolis in the Central-West region of Brazil. We studied trends over eleven years, both in the detection of the disease and in disabilities, analyzing disparities and/or differences regarding gender and age. This is an ecological time series study conducted in Cuiabá, capital of the state of Mato Grosso. The population consisted of patients diagnosed with leprosy between the years 2008 and 2018. The time series of leprosy cases was used, stratifying it according to gender (male and female), disability grade (G0D, G1D, G2D, and not evaluated) and age. The calendar adjustment technique was applied. For modeling the trends, the Seasonal-Trend decomposition procedure based on Loess (STL) was used. We identified 9.739 diagnosed cases, in which 58.37% were male and 87.55% aged between 15 and 59 years. Regarding detection according to gender, there was a decrease among women and an increase in men. The study shows an increasing trend in disabilities in both genders, which may be related to the delay in diagnosis. There was also an increasing number of cases that were not assessed for disability at the time of diagnosis, which denotes the quality of the services.

Trends and forecasts of leprosy for a hyperendemic city from Brazil's northeast: Evidence from an eleven-year time-series analysis.

This study's objective was to estimate the temporal trends of leprosy according to sex and age groups, as well as to estimate and predict the progression of the disease in a hyperendemic city located in the northeast of Brazil. This ecological time-series study was conducted in Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil. Leprosy cases diagnosed between 2006 and 2016 were included. Detection rates stratified by sex and age groups were estimated. The study of temporal trends was accomplished using the Seasonal-Trend Decomposition method and temporal modeling of detection rates using linear seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model according to Box and Jenkins method. Trend forecasts were performed for the 2017-2020 period. A total of 3,212 cases of leprosy were identified, the average incidence among men aged between 30 and 59 years old was 201.55/100,000 inhabitants and among women in the same age group was 135.28/100,000 inhabitants. Detection rates in total and by sex presented a downward trend, though rates stratified according to sex and age presented a growing trend among men aged less than 15 years old and among women aged 60 years old or over. The final models selected in the time-series analysis show the forecasts of total detection rates and rates for men and women presented a downward trend for the 2017-2020 period. Even though the forecasts show a downward trend in Imperatriz, the city is unlikely to meet a significant decrease of the disease burden by 2020.

Leprosy in urban space, areas of risk for disability and worsening of this health condition in Foz Do Iguaçu, the border region between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a public health problem and a challenge for endemic countries, especially in their border regions where there are intense migration flows. The study aimed to analyse the dynamics of leprosy, in order to identify areas of risk for the occurrence of the disease and disability and places where this health condition is worsening. METHOD: This ecological study considered the new cases of leprosy reported in the municipality of Foz do Iguaçu from 2003 to 2015. Spatial and spatial-temporal scan statistics were used to identify the risk areas for the occurrence of leprosy, as well as the Getis-Ord Gi and Getis-Ord Gi* methods. Areas of risk for disabilities were identified by the scan statistic and kernel density estimation. RESULTS: A total of 840 cases were reported, of which 179 (21.3%) presented Grade 1 or 2 disabilities at the time of diagnosis. Leprosy risk areas were concentrated in the Southern, Eastern and Northeastern Health Districts of the municipality. The cases of Grade 2 disability were observed with higher intensity in regions characterized by high population density and poverty. CONCLUSION: The results of the study have revealed changes in the pattern of areas at risk of leprosy according to the investigated periods. In addition, it was possible to verify disabilities as a condition present in the investigated cases, or that may be related to the late diagnosis of the disease. In the areas of risk identified, patients have reported worse physical disability after diagnostic confirmation, or indicate inadequate clinical examination, reinforcing the need for structuring leprosy control services in a qualified manner.

Tempo para o diagnóstico da hanseníase e sua relação com fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos / Tiempo para el diagnóstico de lepra y su relación con los factores sociodemográficos y clínicos / Time for leprosy diagnosis and its relation to sociodemographic and clinical factors

RESUMO Objetivo: investigar os fatores associados ao tempo decorrido entre a identificação dos sinais e sintomas relacionados à hanseníase até o diagnóstico dos casos atendidos na atenção primária à saúde. Método: estudo transversal e analítico, realizado na atenção primária à saúde em um município de grande porte localizado no sul do Brasil, com amostra de 245 indivíduos. O período analisado foi de 2009 a 2016, por meio das fichas de notificação e consulta ao prontuário. Para análise do tempo para o diagnóstico de hanseníase (categorizado em 0 a 5 anos ou 6 anos ou mais), conduziram-se análises de frequência relativa simples, bivariada e regressão logística binária aferida pelo OddsRatio (OR) e intervalo de confiança de 95%. Nível de significância estatística estabelecido de 5% para todas as análises. Resultados: o tempo para o diagnóstico variou de 1 mês a 20 anos, sendo necessários, em média, 7,9 consultas e 4,6 anos para obtê-lo. Ter três ou mais hipóteses aumentou a chance de diagnóstico tardio, comparado ao oportuno (OR ajustado=4,82; IC95%: 2,13-10,89; P<0,001). Conclusão: o tempo decorrido para o diagnóstico teve impacto nas características da hanseníase, sendo que quanto maior o número de hipóteses apresentadas, maior o tempo decorrido para o diagnóstico e, consequentemente, maiores as chances de apresentar GIF instalado.

RESUMEN Objetivo: investigar los factores asociados tras el tiempo entre la identificación de las señales y los síntomas relacionados a la lepra hasta el diagnóstico de los casos atendidos en la atención primaria a la salud. Método: estudio transversal y analítico, realizado en la atención primaria a la salud en un municipio de gran tamaño ubicado en el sur de Brasil, con muestra de 245 individuos. El período analizado fue de 2009 a 2016, por medio de las fichas de notificación y consulta al registro médico. Para análisis del tiempo para el diagnóstico de lepra (categorizado en 0 a 5 años o 6 años o más), se condujeron los análisis de frecuencia relativo simple, bivariante y regresión logística binaria probada por elOdds Ratio (OR) e intervalo de confianza de 95%. Nivel de significación estadística establecido de 5% para todos los análisis. Resultados: el tiempo para el diagnóstico varió de 1 mes a 20 años, siendo necesarios, en promedio, 7,9 consultas y 4,6 años para obtenerlo. Tener tres o más hipótesis aumentó la probabilidad de diagnóstico tardío, comparado al oportuno (OR ajustado=4,82; IC95%: 2,13-10,89; P<0,001). Conclusión: el tiempo transcurrido para el diagnóstico tuvo impacto en las características de la lepra, siendo que cuanto mayor el número de hipótesis presentadas, mayor el tiempo transcurrido para el diagnóstico y, consecuentemente, mayores las probabilidades de presentar grado de discapacidad física instalado.

ABSTRACT Objective: to investigate the factors associated with the time that elapsed between the identification of signs and symptoms related to leprosy and the diagnosis of cases seen in primary health care. Method: this is a cross-sectional and analytical study carried out in primary health care in a large city located in southern Brazil, with a sample of 245 individuals. The period analyzed was from 2009 to 2016, through notification forms and consultation of medical records. For analysis of the time for the diagnosis of leprosy (categorized as 0 to 5 years or 6 years or more), we performed analyzes of simple relative bivariate frequency and binary logistic regression measured by Odds Ratio (OR) and a confidence interval of 95 %. The statistical significance level was set at 5% for all analyzes. Results: the time for diagnosis varied from 1 month to 20 years, requiring, on average, 7.9 consultations and 4.6 years to obtain it. Having three or more hypotheses increased the chance of late diagnosis, compared to the opportune one (adjusted OR = 4.82; 95% CI: 2.13-10.89; P <0.001). Conclusion: the time elapsed for the diagnosis had an impact on the characteristics of leprosy, and the greater the number of hypotheses, the longer the time elapsed for the diagnosis and, consequently, the greater the chances of presenting DPD installed.

Social determinants, their relationship with leprosy risk and temporal trends in a tri-border region in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Brazil is the only country in Latin America that has adopted a national health system. This causes differences in access to health among Latin American countries and induces noticeable migration to Brazilian regions to seek healthcare. This phenomenon has led to difficulties in the control and elimination of diseases related to poverty, such as leprosy. The aim of this study was to evaluate social determinants and their relationship with the risk of leprosy, as well as to examine the temporal trend of its occurrence in a Brazilian municipality located on the tri-border area between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. METHODS: This ecological study investigated newly-diagnosed cases of leprosy between 2003 and 2015. Exploratory analysis of the data was performed through descriptive statistics. For spatial analysis, geocoding of the data was performed using spatial scan statistic techniques to obtain the Relative Risk (RR) for each census tract, with their respective 95% confidence intervals calculated. The Bivariate Moran I test, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models were applied to analyze the spatial relationships of social determinants and leprosy risk. The temporal trend of the annual coefficient of new cases was obtained through the Prais-Winsten regression. A standard error of 5% was considered statistically significant (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Of the 840 new cases identified in the study, there was a predominance of females (n = 427, 50.8%), of white race/color (n = 685, 81.6%), age range 15 to 59 years (n = 624, 74.3%), and incomplete elementary education (n = 504, 60.0%). The results obtained from multivariate analysis revealed that the proportion of households with monthly nominal household income per capita greater than 1 minimum wage (ß = 0.025, p = 0.036) and people of brown race (ß = -0.101, p = 0.024) were statistically-significantly associated with risk of illness due to leprosy. These results also confirmed that social determinants and risk of leprosy were significantly spatially non-stationary. Regarding the temporal trend, a decrease of 4% (95% CI [-0.053, -0.033], p = 0.000) per year was observed in the rate of detection of new cases of leprosy. CONCLUSION: The social determinants income and race/color were associated with the risk of leprosy. The study's highlighting of these social determinants can contribute to the development of public policies directed toward the elimination of leprosy in the border region.

Spatial clustering and local risk of leprosy in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Although the detection rate is decreasing, the proportion of new cases with WHO grade 2 disability (G2D) is increasing, creating concern among policy makers and the Brazilian government. This study aimed to identify spatial clustering of leprosy and classify high-risk areas in a major leprosy cluster using the SatScan method. METHODS: Data were obtained including all leprosy cases diagnosed between January 2006 and December 2013. In addition to the clinical variable, information was also gathered regarding the G2D of the patient at diagnosis and after treatment. The Scan Spatial statistic test, developed by Kulldorff e Nagarwalla, was used to identify spatial clustering and to measure the local risk (Relative Risk-RR) of leprosy. Maps considering these risks and their confidence intervals were constructed. RESULTS: A total of 434 cases were identified, including 188 (43.31%) borderline leprosy and 101 (23.28%) lepromatous leprosy cases. There was a predominance of males, with ages ranging from 15 to 59 years, and 51 patients (11.75%) presented G2D. Two significant spatial clusters and three significant spatial-temporal clusters were also observed. The main spatial cluster (p = 0.000) contained 90 census tracts, a population of approximately 58,438 inhabitants, detection rate of 22.6 cases per 100,000 people and RR of approximately 3.41 (95%CI = 2.721-4.267). Regarding the spatial-temporal clusters, two clusters were observed, with RR ranging between 24.35 (95%CI = 11.133-52.984) and 15.24 (95%CI = 10.114-22.919). CONCLUSION: These findings could contribute to improvements in policies and programming, aiming for the eradication of leprosy in Brazil. The Spatial Scan statistic test was found to be an interesting resource for health managers and healthcare professionals to map the vulnerability of areas in terms of leprosy transmission risk and areas of underreporting.

Acesso dos doentes de hanseníase na atenção primária à saúde: potencialidades, fragilidades e desafios / Access regarding leprosy patients in primary health care: potentialities, fragilities and challenges

OBJETIVO: A investigação do acesso por meio de publicações científicas, evidenciando suas potencialidades, fragilidades e desafios, traz a possibilidade de desvendar os nós-críticos do sistema de saúde, a fim de alcançar a eliminação da hanseníase. MÉTODO: revisão integrativa de estudos indexados nas bases de dados MEDLINE, LILACS e BIREME, considerando artigos em Português, Inglês e Espanhol, no período de 1993 a junho de 2016. Atenderam aos critérios de seleção 15 artigos. RESULTADOS: apontam que o acesso ao diagnóstico e tratamento da doença apresenta potencialidades, como disponibilização de medicamentos e vínculo com os profissionais de saúde, porém também exige mudanças operacionais pela equipe da saúde frente às Ações de Controle da Hanseníase, a fim de suprir as fragilidades e desafios em conjunto com o compromisso político da Atenção Primária à Saúde, dos quais podem-se destacar o preparo dos profissionais de saúde frente à doença, o diagnóstico precoce e a descentralização. Todas essas informações encontram-se em um quadro que condensa as potencialidades e desafios, assim como uma tabela contemplando as fragilidades encontradas. CONCLUSÃO: os municípios necessitam empregar esforços em prol das ações preconizadas pelo Ministério da Saúde em busca da eliminação da Hanseníase.

OBJECTIVE: The investigation of access, via scientific publications, proving its potential, weaknesses, and challenges, makes possible to unmask healthcare criticism to the point of reaching the elimination of leprosy. METHOD: Integrative reform of indexed studies in databases, such as MEDLINE, LILACS and BIREME, considering articles in Portuguese, English and Spanish during the period of 1993 to June of 2016. Fifteen articles meet the selection criteria. RESULTS: They point out that access to diagnosis and treatment of the disease show potential, like the availability of medication and link to health professionals, Thus, health professionals need to make necessary operational adjustments to Actions for Leprosy Control to minimize the weaknesses and challenges in conjunction with the political promise of Primary Health Care, highlighting that the training of health professionals to deal with the disease, diagnose it and decentralize it. All of this information is in a table showcasing its potential and challenges, as well as its weaknesses. CONCLUSION: municipalities need to take action using the pre-existing steps devised by the Health Ministry in attempt to eliminate leprosy.

Patients' perceptions on the performance of a local health system to eliminate leprosy,Paraná State, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, leprosy has been listed among the health priorities since 2006, in a plan known as the "Pact for life" (Pacto pela Vida). It is the sole country on the American continent that has not reached the global goal of disease elimination. Local health systems face many challenges to achieve this global goal. The study aimed to investigate how patients perceive the local health system's performance to eliminate leprosy and whether these perceptions differ in terms of the patients' income. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Londrina, State of Paraná, Brazil. Interviews were performed with the leprosy patients. The local health system was assessed through a structured and adapted tool, considering the domains judged as good quality of health care. The authors used univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses. One hundred and nineteen patients were recruited for the study, 50.4% (60) of them were male, 54.0% (64) were between 42 and 65 years old and 66.3% (79) had finished elementary school. The results showed that patients used the Primary Health Care service near their place of residence but did not receive the leprosy diagnosis there. Important advances of this health system were verified for the elimination of leprosy, verifying protocols for good care delivery to the leprosy patients, but these services did not develop collective health actions and did not engage the patients' family members and community. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The patients' difficulty was observed to have access to the diagnosis and treatment at health services near their homes. Leprosy care is provided at the specialized level, where the patients strongly bond with the teams. The care process is individual, with limited perspectives of integration among the health services for the purpose of case management and social mobilization of the community to the leprosy problem.

Fatores associados às incapacidades em pacientes diagnosticados de Hanseníase: um estudo transversal / Factors associated with disabilities on patients diagnosed with Hansen’s disease: a cross-sectional study

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar os fatores associado sàs incapacidades em pacientes diagnosticados de hanseníase.Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico de corte transversal com dados oriundos dos municípios que compõem a 17ª Regional de Saúde do Estado do Paraná.Os dados foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, sendo selecionados os casos diagnosticados de hanseníase entre 2009 e 2012. Para testar associação entre as incapacidades de hanseníase e as variáveis independentes recorreu-se ao teste qui-quadrado de proporções bicaudal. Fixou-se alpha em 5% (α= 0,05) como estatisticamente significativo. Foram identificados 245 casos de hanseníase diagnosticados, destes 129 (52,7%) eram do sexo masculino, com faixa etária acima dos 46 anos (n=103; 52,7%). Os fatores que apresentaram associação estatisticamente significativas comas incapacidades foram baixa escolaridade (p<0,001),idade avançada (p<0,001), ter sido transferido, reingresso ou recidivas (p=0,007). As incapacidades correspondem um problema importante no cenário investigado, verificando grupos mais acometidos por esse evento do que outros, assim esses primeiros devem ser priorizados em termos de oferta de ações e serviços de saúde.

This study aimed to analyze factors associated with disabilitieson patients diagnosed with Hansen’s disease.It was an epidemiological and cross-sectional study,which included data from municipalities of 17th HealthRegional Department of Paraná State. Data were gatheredthrough Information System for Notifiable Diseases(Sinan), being selected cases diagnosed with Hansen’sdisease between years 2009 and 2012. To analyze associationbetween Hansen’s disease disability degrees andindependent variables two-sided proportion chi-squarewas used. Alpha in 5% (α = 0,05) was defined as statisticallysignificant. Two hundred and forty five cases withHansen’s disease were identified to the study, of whose129 (52.7%) were male, aged 48 years old or older(n=103; 52,7%). Factors associated with Hansen’s diseasedisabilities were low level of schooling (p<0.001), old age(p<0.001), to be migrated, reentry and relapse (p=0.007).Hansen’s disease disabilities represent an important problemin scenario of study, observing groups more susceptibleto this event than others, therefore those firstshould be prioritized in terms of health actions offeringand health services.