Epidemiological, neurofunctional profile and prevalence of factors associated with the occurrence of physical disabilities due to leprosy in a reference center in Northeast Brasil: a sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological and neurofunctional profile, as well as the prevalence of factors associated with the occurrence of physical disabilities due to leprosy in a reference center in Northeast Brasil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including 50 leprosy patients diagnosed in Juazeiro-Bahia. Variables analyzed: sex, age, history of leprosy in the family, time to diagnosis, clinical form, operational classification, degree of disability, eyes-hand-foot score, peripheral nerve function, muscle strength and sensitivity. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (χ² test or Fisher's exact, Poisson regression with robust estimation and prevalence reason were used. Significance of 5%). RESULTS: An equal distribution was found between men and women of economically active age and low education; multibacillary forms in men (64%) and paucibacillary forms in women (60%). 78% of individuals had some degree of disability and 64% had a compromised ulnar nerve. Plantar sensitivity was decreased in 66% of patients. The predictors of disability were: age ≥45 years (PR 1.44; p=0.005), no education (PR 1.21; p=0.013) and OMP score ≥6 (PR 1.29; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings show the importance of monitoring neural functions and developing measures that allow early diagnosis, the opportune method and the prevention of disabilities, especially in the male population.

Fatores associados à limitação de atividade em casos novos de hanseníase em município hiperendêmico do Nordeste, Brasil: estudo transversal / Factors associated with activity limitation in new leprosy cases in a Northeastern hyperendemic municipality, Brazil: a cross-sectional study / Factores asociados con la limitación de la actividad en nuevos casos de lepra en un municipio hiperendémico del noreste, Brasil: un estudio transversal

Introdução: A hanseníase é uma doença tropical negligenciada causada por Mycobacterium leprae. O Brasil é um dos principais países endêmicos para a doença, persistindo como problema de saúde pública. Além disso, é a principal doença infecciosa causadora de incapacidades físicas. Objetivos: Analisar a magnitude e os fatores associados à limitação de atividade nos casos novos de hanseníase diagnosticados no centro de referência do nordeste do Brasil. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal envolvendo 50 pessoas com diagnóstico de hanseníase. Foram coletadas variáveis clínicas e sociodemográficas além de aplicação da escala SALSA para análise da limitação funcional. Empregou-se regressão logística com cálculo de odds ratio. Resultados: A presença de limitações funcionais foi registrada em 32% (n=16) dos casos analisados, destacando-se sexo feminino (56,3%), idosos (37,5%), baixa escolaridade (87,6%), forma dimorfa (62,5%), classificação multibacilar (75,0%) e grau 2 de incapacidade física (50,0%). A limitação funcional esteve associada a faixa etária ≥45 anos (OR 3,80; p=0,047), classificação multibacilar (OR 4,28; p=0,021) e escore OMP ≥6 (OR 4,69; p=0,041). Conclusão: Observou-se elevada frequência de pessoas com incapacidade físicas. Os fatores associados à limitação funcional foram idade igual ou superior a 45 anos, classificação multibacilar e escore OMP maior ou igual a seis.

Introduction: Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Brazil is one of the main endemic countries for the disease, persisting as a public health problem. In addition, it is the main infectious disease that causes physical disabilities. Objectives: To analyze the magnitude and factors associated with activity limitation in new cases of leprosy diagnosed in the reference center in Northeastern Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 50 people diagnosed with leprosy. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were collected in addition to the application of the SALSA scale for the analysis of functional limitations. Logistic regression was used with the calculation of odds ratio. Results: The presence of functional limitations was registered in 32% (n=16) of the cases analyzed, especially female (56.3%), elderly (37.5%), low education (87.6%), dimorphic form (62.5%), multibacillary classification (75.0%), and degree 2 of physical disability (50.0%). Functional limitation was associated with an age range ≥45 years (OR 3.80; p=0.047), multibacillary classification (OR 4.28; p=0.021), and OMP score ≥6 (OR 4.69; p=0.041). Conclusion: There was a high frequency of people with physical disabilities. The factors associated with functional limitation were age equal to or greater than 45 years, multibacillary classification and OMP score greater than or equal to six.

Introducción: La lepra es una enfermedad tropical desatendida causada por Mycobacterium leprae. Brasil es uno de los principales países endémicos de la enfermedad, persistiendo como problema de salud pública. Además, es la principal enfermedad infecciosa que causa discapacidades físicas. Objetivo: Analizar la magnitud y los factores asociados a la limitación de la actividad en los nuevos casos de lepra diagnosticados en el centro de referencia del noreste de Brasil. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio transversal en el que participaron 50 personas diagnosticadas con lepra. Se recogieron variables clínicas y sociodemográficas además de la aplicación de la escala SALSA para el análisis de limitaciones funcionales. Se utilizó regresión logística con el cálculo del odds ratio. Resultados: La presencia de limitaciones funcionales se registró en el 32% (n=16) de los casos analizados, especialmente mujeres (56,3%), ancianos (37,5%), baja escolaridad (87,6%), forma dismórfica (62,5%), clasificación multibacilar (75,0%) y grado 2 de discapacidad física (50,0%). La limitación funcional se asoció con un rango de edad ≥45 años (OR 3,80; p=0,047), clasificación multibacilar (OR 4,28; p=0,021) y puntuación OMP ≥6 (OR 4,69; p=0,041). Conclusión: Hubo una alta frecuencia de personas con discapacidad física. Los factores asociados a la limitación funcional fueron edad igual o superior a 45 años, clasificación multibacilar y puntuación OMP mayor o igual a seis.

Epidemiological, neurofunctional profile and prevalence of factors associated with the occurrence of physical disabilities due to leprosy in a reference center in Northeast Brasil: a sectional study

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological and neurofunctional profile, as well as the prevalence of factors associated with the occurrence of physical disabilities due to leprosy in a reference center in Northeast Brasil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including 50 leprosy patients diagnosed in Juazeiro-Bahia. Variables analyzed: sex, age, history of leprosy in the family, time to diagnosis, clinical form, operational classification, degree of disability, eyes-hand-foot score, peripheral nerve function, muscle strength and sensitivity. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (χ² test or Fisher's exact, Poisson regression with robust estimation and prevalence reason were used. Significance of 5%). RESULTS: An equal distribution was found between men and women of economically active age and low education; multibacillary forms in men (64%) and paucibacillary forms in women (60%). 78% of individuals had some degree of disability and 64% had a compromised ulnar nerve. Plantar sensitivity was decreased in 66% of patients. The predictors of disability were: age ≥45 years (PR 1.44; p=0.005), no education (PR 1.21; p=0.013) and OMP score ≥6 (PR 1.29; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings show the importance of monitoring neural functions and developing measures that allow early diagnosis, the opportune method and the prevention of disabilities, especially in the male population.