Spatial analysis of the epidemiological risk of leprosy in the municipalities of Minas Gerais.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy remains a significant public health problem of high importance. This investigation aims to analyze the spatial distribution of the leprosy epidemiological risk in the municipalities of Minas Gerais. METHODS: This ecological study was conducted with new leprosy cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2019 in the municipalities of the state of Minas Gerais. Based on the epidemiological indicators, a composite indicator called the leprosy epidemiological risk index was estimated, classifying municipalities as high, medium, low and very low risk. For the spatial analysis, the global and local spatial autocorrelation statistics were used to identify the spatial distribution of the leprosy epidemiological risk in the periods 2004-2011 and 2012-2019 and classified as High/High, Low/Low, High/Low and Low /High. RESULTS: Although leprosy is declining in the state of Minas Gerais, the Global Moran Index confirmed the spatial dependence between municipalities for the two analyzed periods, characterizing the formation of clusters. When performing the local spatial autocorrelation, it was found that the macroregions with the highest number of municipalities with high indices, surrounded by other municipalities with high indices (high-high), were Northwest, East, South East, North, and Northeast. The low risk macroregions were Southeast, Center, South-Center and South. CONCLUSION: Leprosy has a heterogeneous spatial pattern and remains concentrated in historically endemic areas of the state. It underscores the importance of intensifying actions to combat leprosy in these municipalities and macroregions. Promote improved access to health services and combat stigma and prejudice to eliminate leprosy as a public health problem.

Are the clinical features of leprosy and American tegumentary leishmaniasis worse in patients with both diseases?

This cross-sectional population-based study compared clinical features of leprosy and American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in patients diagnosed with both diseases (n=414) and in those diagnosed with only leprosy (n=27,790) or only ATL (n=24,357) in Mato Grosso State, which is a hyperendemic area for both diseases in Midwest Brazil. All new cases of leprosy and ATL reported in the area from 2008 to 2017 were included. Patients diagnosed with both diseases were identified by a probabilistic linkage procedure applied to leprosy and ATL databases of the national reporting system. The distribution of the frequency of clinical features between groups was compared by the chi-square test, followed by a multivariate logistic regression. Patients diagnosed with both leprosy and ATL presented higher odds of having nerve damage (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.09-1.66) and leprosy reactions (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.04-1.76) compared to patients diagnosed only with leprosy. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.74-3.00) was more frequent among patients with both diagnoses when compared to patients who only had ATL. In conclusion, patients diagnosed with both leprosy and ATL present more severe clinical features of such diseases. Our data can be useful for designing health policies aimed at timely and integrated management of leprosy and ATL in co-endemic areas.

Hanseníase em menores de 15 anos: caracterização sociodemográfica e clínica dos casos em um município hiperendêmico / Hansen`s disease in children under 15 years old: sociodemographic and clinical characterization of the cases in a hyperendemic municipality / La lepra en menores de 15 años: caracterización sociodemográfica y clínica de los casos en un municipio hiperendémico

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar o perfil sociodemográfico e clínico dos casos notificados de hanseníase em menores de 15 anos, no município de São Luís - Maranhão - Brasil. Método: estudo descritivo realizado com 826 casos notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, em São Luís - Maranhão, no período de 2010 a 2019. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva e foram expressos em frequências absolutas e relativas. Resultados: faixa etária entre 10 e 14 anos (60,29%), masculino (51,09%), cor parda (69,59%), ensino fundamental incompleto (39,58%), multibacilar (62,71%), forma clínica dimorfa (54,24%), até cinco lesões (74,45%), zero a dois nervos afetados (83,23%), sem baciloscopia (46,28%), casos novos (93,70%), demanda espontânea (46,38%) e grau zero de incapacidade no diagnóstico (78,98%). Conclusão: foram demostrados parâmetros hiperendêmicos com elevado risco para a doença. Destaca-se a importância de criar estratégias de controle e prevenção para reduzir a transmissão da hanseníase em crianças.

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical profile of reported cases of Hansen´s disease in children under 15 years old in the municipality of São Luís - Maranhão - Brazil. Method: descriptive study conducted with 826 cases reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System, in São Luís - Maranhão, in the period from 2010 to 2019. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and were expressed in absolute and relative frequencies. Results: age group between 10 and 14 years (60.29%), male (51.09%), brown (69.59%), incomplete elementary education (39.58%), multibacillary (62.71%), dimorphic clinical form (54.24%), up to five lesions (74.45%), zero to two nerves affected (83.23%), no bacilloscopic (46.28%), new cases (93.70%), spontaneous demand (46.38%) and zero degree of disability at diagnosis (78.98%). Conclusion: hyper-endemic parameters with high risk for the disease were demonstrated. It is important to create control and prevention strategies to reduce Hansen´s disease transmission in children.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar el perfil sociodemográfico y clínico de los casos notificados de lepra en niños menores de 15 años, en el municipio de São Luís - Maranhão - Brasil. Método: estudio descriptivo realizado con 826 casos notificados en el Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Declaración Obligatoria, en São Luís - Maranhão, en el período de 2010 a 2019. Los datos se analizaron mediante estadísticas descriptivas y se expresaron en frecuencias absolutas y relativas. Resultados: edad entre 10 y 14 años (60,29%), sexo masculino (51,09%), color marrón (69,59%), educación elemental incompleta (39,58%), multibacilar (62,71%), forma clínica dimórfica (54,24%), hasta cinco lesiones (74,45%), de cero a dos nervios afectados (83,23%), sin baciloscopia (46,28%), casos nuevos (93,70%), demanda espontánea (46,38%) y cero grado de discapacidad en el momento del diagnóstico (78,98%). Conclusión: se demostraron parámetros hiperendémicos con alto riesgo de enfermedad. Destaca la importancia de crear estrategias de control y prevención para reducir la transmisión de la lepra en los niños.

Territory, neglected diseases and the action of community and endemic combat agents.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize knowledge, practices, and professional experience of community health agents (ACS) and endemic combat agents (ACE) on leprosy and Chagas disease (DC), during participation in an integrated training workshop in the IntegraDTNs-Bahia project. METHODS: Descriptive and exploratory case study, involving health agents and endemic combat agents participating in a training workshop on the shared role of these professionals in health care and surveillance processes. The project was developed in the municipalities of Anagé, Tremedal and Vitória da Conquista, in the southwestern State of Bahia, 2019-2020. A specific instrument was applied, with questions related to knowledge and practices of surveillance and care for leprosy and Chagas disease. Descriptive analysis of the data, in addition to consolidation of the lexical analysis, was performed. RESULTS: Out of a total of 135 participants (107 ACS and 28 ACE), 80.7% of them have been working for at least 12 years, without previous participation in joint training processes. Only 17.9% of endemic combat agentes reported having participated in training on leprosy and none reported developing specific actions to control the disease. For Chagas disease, 36.4% of community health agents participated in training more than a decade before, while for 60.7% of endemic combat agents the last training was carried out in the last five years. The development of educational actions for Chagas disease was more frequent for endemic combat agents (64.3%). When asked about ways of recognizing diseases, the term "skin spots" was the most reported (38 times) for leprosy and, for Chagas disease, the term "I don't know" (17 times). CONCLUSION: Processes of health agents and endemic combat agents action in realities endemic for leprosy and Chagas disease in the interior of Bahia proved to be fragmented in the territories. For these diseases, the distance between surveillance and health care actions is reinforced, including in training processes. The importance of innovative permanent and integrated education actions is reiterated to actually promote changes in practices.

Comportamiento epidemiológico de la lepra en varios países de América Latina, 2011-2020

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Describir el comportamiento epidemiológico de la lepra en varios países latinoamericanos durante 2011-2020, tomando como base los indicadores de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Método. Estudio transversal, descriptivo y cuantitativo con datos oficiales sobre incidencia y prevalencia en la población en general, niños, forma clínica y casos de discapacidad de grado 2 registrados por la OMS entre 2011 y 2020. Se seleccionaron los ocho países latinoamericanos con más casos y se realizaron análisis de estadística descriptiva simple y comparativa entre las variables. Resultados. Entre 2011-2020 se reportaron 301 312 casos de lepra en los países seleccionados: Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Cuba, México, Paraguay, República Dominicana y Venezuela. Brasil fue el único con una prevalencia mayor a 1 por 10 000 habitantes y representó 93,77% de casos. En Brasil y República Dominicana se observó un aumento de la prevalencia durante 2011-2019, mientras que en los demás países esta tendió a disminuir. La enfermedad fue más frecuente en hombres, y los casos multibacilares superaron significativamente a los paucibacilares. En Brasil se encontraron las mayores incidencias de casos de lepra infantil y discapacidad de grado 2 durante el período evaluado. Conclusión. A pesar de que en América Latina la lepra solo es considerada un problema de salud pública en Brasil, la mayoría de los países de la región continúa reportando casos cada año, lo que revela una falta de atención médica adecuada. El estudio confirmó la importancia de la vigilancia activa, el diagnóstico temprano y la planificación de acciones contra la enfermedad en todos los países evaluados, con el propósito de disminuir o detener su transmisión.

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To describe the epidemiological behavior of leprosy in several Latin American countries during 2011-2020, based on World Health Organization (WHO) indicators. Methods. Cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study with official data on incidence and prevalence in the general population, children, clinical form and cases with grade 2 disability from WHO records between 2011 and 2020. The eight countries in Latin America that reported most cases were selected and analyses were carried out using simple descriptive and comparative statistics between different variables. Results. During the study period, 301 312 cases of leprosy were reported in the selected countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Paraguay, and Venezuela. Brazil is the only country in the region with a prevalence greater than 1 per 10 000, representing 93.77% of all cases. Brazil and the Dominican Republic showed an increase in prevalence during 2011-2019, while in other countries the trend was decreasing. The disease is more frequent in men, and multibacillary cases significantly exceed paucibacillary ones. Brazil showed the highest incidences of cases of childhood leprosy and grade 2 disability during the evaluated period. Conclusion. In Latin America, leprosy is only considered a public health problem in Brazil; however, most countries in the region continue to report cases annually, revealing a lack of adequate medical care. This study confirmed the importance of active surveillance, early diagnosis and planning of actions against the disease in all the countries evaluated with the aim of reducing its transmission.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Descrever o comportamento epidemiológico da hanseníase em vários países de América Latina durante 2011-2020, tomando como base os indicadores da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Método. Estudo transversal, descritivo e quantitativo com dados oficiais de incidência e prevalência na população geral, em crianças, forma clínica e casos com incapacidade de grau 2 nos registros da OMS entre 2011 e 2020. Se selecionaram os oito países da América Latina que relataram a maioria dos casos e as análises foram avaliadas por meio de estatísticas descritivas e comparativas simples entre as variáveis. Resultados. No período, foram notificados 301 312 casos de hanseníase nos países selecionados: Argentina, Brasil, Colômbia, Cuba, México, Paraguai, República Dominicana e Venezuela. O Brasil é o único país da região com prevalência maior que 1 por 10 000 habitantes, representando 93,77% do total de casos. O Brasil e a República Dominicana mostraram um aumento na variação da prevalência durante 2011-2019, enquanto nos demais a tendência foi decrescente. A doença é mais frequente em homens e os casos multibacilares superam significativamente os paucibacilares. O Brasil apresentou as maiores incidências de hanseníase infantil e incapacidade de grau 2 durante o período avaliado. Conclusão. Na América Latina, a hanseníase só é considerada um problema de saúde pública no Brasil; no entanto, a maioria dos países da região continua notificando casos anualmente, revelando falta de assistência médica adequada. O presente estudo confirmou a importância da vigilância ativa, do diagnóstico precoce e do planejamento de ações contra a doença em todos os países avaliados, com o objetivo de reduzir e interromper a sua transmissão.

Equal rates of drug resistance in leprosy cases with relapse and recurrent/chronic Type 2 reaction: time to revise the guidelines for drug-resistance testing in leprosy?

BACKGROUND: Leprosy relapse/recurrence is a serious concern particularly in a leprosy-endemic nation such as India. It is believed that bacilli persisting even after multidrug therapy can cause relapse; recently, however, drug resistance as a cause for recurrences and chronic erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) has been speculated. AIM: To study drug-resistance patterns in cases of leprosy relapse and chronic/recurrent (c/r)ENL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 1 year included patients diagnosed as having leprosy relapse and those with c/rENL. Skin biopsy specimens were examined by conventional PCR for resistance testing for rifampicin, dapsone and ofloxacin, respectively targeting the rpoB, folP and gyrA genes of Mycobacterium leprae. RESULTS: In total, 61 patients (25 smear-negative) were included in the study. Of these, 37 were diagnosed as having leprosy relapse and 24 as having c/rENL. Drug resistance to at least one drug was identified in 10 cases (16.4%). Rates of drug resistance were 5.4% (2 of 37) for dapsone, 10.8% (4 of 37) for rifampicin and 2.7% (1 of 37) for ofloxacin among cases of relapse, whereas it was 12.5% (3 of 24) and 8.3% (2 of 24) for dapsone and rifampicin respectively among those with c/rENL. Multidrug resistance was seen in 3.3% patients (2 of 61). CONCLUSION: Drug-resistance rate among those with c/rENL was almost equalled that of relapse. Smear-negative leprosy relapse cases also had resistance to bactericidal drugs. These findings call for modifications in criteria for testing under leprosy drug-resistance surveillance and all cases of relapse and those with recalcitrant c/rENL should be tested.

Ensino e pesquisa na atenção à hanseníase no estado de São Paulo / Teaching and research in leprosy care in the state of São Paulo

Ao se abrir a temática da hanseníase como um problema de saúde pública grave e atual no Brasil, uma pergunta se faz de forma incisiva: por que esse problema persiste, se ele dispõe de tratamento medicamentoso gratuito e eficaz há mais de quatro décadas?A hanseníase tem uma longa trajetória e carrega em sua história heranças dramáticas, desde aquelas pré-bíblicas até as provindas das práticas de internação compulsória, ocorrida mais recentemente.Com o avanço e o menor custo das tecnologias baseadas em biologia molecular, em 2022, foram aprovados pela CONITEC a disponibilização do teste rápido na atenção básica para casos suspeitos/contatos e o PCR para serviços de referências, auxiliando, assim, na confirmação do diagnóstico e na pesquisa de resistência medicamentosa.

Repercussões das Políticas Nacionais de Controle da Hanseníase no Maranhão: registros históricos, artigos, relatos de experiências e narrativas / Repercussions of National Leprosy Control Policies in Maranhão: historical records, articles, experience reports and narratives

No final dos anos 40, a ciência descobria o tratamento para a hanseníase, medicamentos para a cura e interrupção do contágio, o que também viabilizou o fim do isolamento de indivíduos em leprosários nos anos subsequentes. Os avanços científicos, contudo, não impediram que o Brasil chegasse ao século XXI com regiões endêmicas de hanseníase. Em parte, a sociedade atual não trata o problema com preocupação, comporta-se, em geral, como se a doença tivesse sido eliminada, quando é fato que o Brasil ocupa a segunda posição entre os países com maior número de casos da doença, perdendo apenas para a Índia. A endemia hansênica é silenciada e faz novas vítimas, como se falar pouco a fizesse desaparecer, junto com os doentes. Também há de se convir que as gerações atuais precisaram conhecer e enfrentar diversos tipos de vírus, surtos, epidemias e pandemia. A hanseníase não detém o mesmo status de preocupação. A doença acomete os mais vulneráveis, geralmente os pobres, residentes em regiões isoladas. O assunto ganha pouco destaque na grande mídia e cabe, portanto, aos profissionais de saúde e ao poder público ofertarem os esclarecimentos devidos sobre a doença e o seu tratamento. Este livro é uma ferramenta histórica e traz visibilidade ao enfrentamento e aos avanços recentes no combate à hanseníase no Maranhão. O árduo trabalho tem alcançado resultados elogiosos e o reconhecimento de organizações brasileiras e internacionais. Com expectativa, desejo que a leitura dos fatos narrados neste material desperte maior interesse sobre o combate à hanseníase, de modo a garantir que o Maranhão e o Brasil estejam livres da doença ainda nesta geração.

Territory, neglected diseases and the action of community and endemic combat agents / Território, doenças negligenciadas e ação de agentes comunitários e de combate a endemias

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To characterize knowledge, practices, and professional experience of community health agents (ACS) and endemic combat agents (ACE) on leprosy and Chagas disease (DC), during participation in an integrated training workshop in the IntegraDTNs-Bahia project. METHODS Descriptive and exploratory case study, involving health agents and endemic combat agents participating in a training workshop on the shared role of these professionals in health care and surveillance processes. The project was developed in the municipalities of Anagé, Tremedal and Vitória da Conquista, in the southwestern State of Bahia, 2019-2020. A specific instrument was applied, with questions related to knowledge and practices of surveillance and care for leprosy and Chagas disease. Descriptive analysis of the data, in addition to consolidation of the lexical analysis, was performed. RESULTS Out of a total of 135 participants (107 ACS and 28 ACE), 80.7% of them have been working for at least 12 years, without previous participation in joint training processes. Only 17.9% of endemic combat agentes reported having participated in training on leprosy and none reported developing specific actions to control the disease. For Chagas disease, 36.4% of community health agents participated in training more than a decade before, while for 60.7% of endemic combat agents the last training was carried out in the last five years. The development of educational actions for Chagas disease was more frequent for endemic combat agents (64.3%). When asked about ways of recognizing diseases, the term "skin spots" was the most reported (38 times) for leprosy and, for Chagas disease, the term "I don't know" (17 times). CONCLUSION Processes of health agents and endemic combat agents action in realities endemic for leprosy and Chagas disease in the interior of Bahia proved to be fragmented in the territories. For these diseases, the distance between surveillance and health care actions is reinforced, including in training processes. The importance of innovative permanent and integrated education actions is reiterated to actually promote changes in practices.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Caracterizar conhecimentos, práticas e experiência profissional de agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS) e agentes de controle de endemias (ACE) sobre hanseníase e doença de Chagas (DC), durante participação em oficina de formação integrada no projeto IntegraDTNs-Bahia. MÉTODOS Estudo de caso descritivo e exploratório, envolvendo comunitários de saúde e agentes de controle de endemias, participantes de oficina de formação sobre o papel compartilhado desses profissionais no processo de vigilância e atenção à saúde. Projeto desenvolvido nos municípios de Anagé, Tremedal e Vitória da Conquista, no Sudoeste do Estado da Bahia, 2019-2020. Aplicou-se instrumento específico prévio com questões relativas a conhecimentos e práticas de vigilância e atenção para hanseníase e doença de Chagas. Análise descritiva dos dados, além de consolidação da análise léxica. RESULTADOS Do total de 135 participantes (107 ACS e 28 ACE), 80,7% deles atuam há pelo menos 12 anos, sem participação prévia em processos de formação conjunta. Apenas 17,9% dos agentes de controle de endemias relataram ter participado de capacitações sobre hanseníase e nenhum informou desenvolver ações específicas de controle da doença. Para a doença de Chagas, 36,4% dos agentes comunitários de saúde participaram de capacitações há mais de uma década, enquanto para 60,7% dos agentes de controle de endemias a última capacitação foi realizada nos últimos cinco anos. O desenvolvimento de ações educativas para a doença de Chagas foi mais frequente para agentes de controle de endemias (64,3%). Quando perguntados sobre formas de reconhecimento das doenças, a palavra "manchas na pele" foi a mais relatada (38 vezes) para hanseníase e, para a doença de Chagas, a palavra "não sei" (17 vezes). CONCLUSÃO Os processos de atuação de agentes comunitários de saúde e agentes de controle de endemias em realidades endêmicas para hanseníase e doença de Chagas no interior da Bahia revelaram-se desintegrados nos territórios. Para essas doenças, reforça-se o distanciamento entre ações de vigilância e de atenção à saúde, inclusive nos processos de capacitação. Reitera-se a importância de ações inovadoras de educação permanentes e integradas para promover de fato mudanças nas práticas.

Evolução temporal e distribuição espacial da hanseníase em município de baixa endemicidade no estado de São Paulo / Evolución temporal y distribución espacial de la lepra en una ciudad de baja endemia en el estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Temporal evolution and spatial distribution of leprosy in a municipality with low endemicity in São Paulo state, Brazil

Objetivo: Analisar a distribuição espacial e temporal da hanseníase em cenário de baixa endemicidade no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo ecológico, sobre casos de hanseníase notificados no município de Ribeirão Preto, entre 2006 e 2016. A tendência temporal da taxa de detecção de hanseníase foi verificada mediante decomposição de séries temporais, e identificadas as áreas de alta e de baixa ocorrência da doença utilizando-se a técnica Getis-Ord Gi*. Resultados: Foram registrados 890 casos, e a taxa de detecção apresentou uma tendência crescente no período analisado, com crescimento médio de 1% ao mês. Identificaram-se áreas de alta ocorrência da doença na região norte do município (99% e 95% de confiança). Conclusão: A taxa de detecção de hanseníase apresentou tendência temporal crescente, e a análise espacial permitiu visualizar que a região do município com maior ocorrência da doença se caracteriza por apresentar as maiores desigualdades sociais.

Objetivo: Analizar la distribución espacial y temporal de la lepra en un escenario de baja endemicidad en el estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Métodos: Estudio ecológico con casos de lepra en Ribeirão Preto, entre 2006 y 2016. La tendencia temporal de la detección de la lepra se verificó a través de la descomposición de series de tiempo e identificaron áreas de alta y baja ocurrencia utilizando la técnica Getis-Ord Gi*. Resultados: Fueron 890 casos y la tasa de detección mostró una tendencia creciente en el período de 2011 a 2015, con un crecimiento promedio de 1% mensual. Se identificaron áreas de alta ocurrencia de la enfermedad en la región norte de la ciudad (99% y 95% de confianza). Conclusión: El análisis temporal mostró que la tasa de detección de lepra presentó una tendencia creciente y el análisis espacial mostró que la región de la ciudad con mayor ocurrencia de la enfermedad se caracteriza por presentar las mayores desigualdades sociales.

Objective: To analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of leprosy in a scenario of low endemicity in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Ecological study with leprosy cases in Ribeirão Preto, between 2006 to 2016. The temporal trend of leprosy detection was verified through the decomposition of time series and identified areas of high and low occurrence of the disease using the Getis-Ord Gi* technique. Results: There were 890 cases, and the detection rate showed an increasing trend in the period from 2011 to 2015, with an average growth of 1% per month. Areas of high occurrence of the disease were identified in the northern region of the city (99% and 95% confidence). Conclusion: The temporal analysis showed that the rate of detection of leprosy presented an increasing trend, and the spatial analysis showed that the region of the municipality with the highest occurrence of the disease is characterized by presenting the greatest social inequalities.

Leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis affecting the same individuals: A retrospective cohort analysis in a hyperendemic area in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affecting the skin. Their control is challenging but the integration of skin NTDs control programs is recommended to improve timely detection and treatment. However, little is known about the occurrence of leprosy and CL in the same individuals, and what are the characteristics of such patients. This study aimed to identify and characterize patients diagnosed with both leprosy and CL (i.e., outcome) in the hyperendemic state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Also, we investigated the demographic risk factors associated with the period between the diagnosis of both diseases. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2017. From the leprosy (n = 28,204) and CL (n = 24,771) databases of the national reporting system, 414 (0.8%; 414/52,561) patients presenting both diseases were identified through a probabilistic linkage procedure. This observed number was much higher than the number of patients that would be expected by chance alone (n = 22). The spatial distribution of patients presenting the outcome was concentrated in the North and Northeast mesoregions of the state. Through survival analysis, we detected that the probability of a patient developing both diseases increased over time from 0.2% in the first year to 1.0% within seven years. Further, using a Cox model we identified male sex (HR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.7-2.9) and low schooling level (HR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2-1.9) as positively associated with the outcome. Furthermore, the hazard of developing the outcome was higher among individuals aged 40-55 years. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Leprosy and CL are affecting the same individuals in the area. Integration of control policies for both diseases will help to efficiently cover such patients. Measures should be focused on timely diagnosis by following-up patients diagnosed with CL, active case detection, and training of health professionals.

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.

Measuring endemicity and burden of leprosy across countries and regions: A systematic review and Delphi survey.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, the annual new case detection in 2019 was 202,189 globally. Measuring endemicity levels and burden in leprosy lacks a uniform approach. As a result, the assessment of leprosy endemicity or burden are not comparable over time and across countries and regions. This can make program planning and evaluation difficult. This study aims to identify relevant metrics and methods for measuring and classifying leprosy endemicity and burden at (sub)national level. METHODS: We used a mixed-method approach combining findings from a systematic literature review and a Delphi survey. The literature search was conducted in seven databases, searching for endemicity, burden and leprosy. We reviewed the available evidence on the usage of indicators, classification levels, and scoring methods to measure and classify endemicity and burden. A two round Delphi survey was conducted to ask experts to rank and weigh indicators, classification levels, and scoring methods. RESULTS: The literature review showed variation of indicators, levels, and cut-off values to measure leprosy endemicity and/or burden. The most used indicators for endemicity include new case detection rate (NCDR), new cases among children and new cases with grade 2 disability. For burden these include NCDR, MB cases, and prevalence. The classification levels 'high' and 'low' were most important. It was considered most relevant to use separate scoring methods for endemicity and burden. The scores would be derived by use of multiple indicators. CONCLUSION: There is great variation in the existing method for measuring endemicity and burden across countries and regions. Our findings contribute to establishing a standardized uniform approach to measure and classify leprosy endemicity and burden at (sub)national level, which would allow effective communication and planning of intervention strategies.

Evidence for hidden leprosy in a high leprosy-endemic setting, Eastern Ethiopia: The application of active case-finding and contact screening.

Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a disabling infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Reliance on the self-presentation of patients to the health services results in many numbers of leprosy cases remaining hidden in the community, which in turn results in a longer delay of presentation and therefore leading to more patients with disabilities. Although studies in Ethiopia show pockets of endemic leprosy, the extent of hidden leprosy in such pockets remains unexplored. This study determined the magnitude of hidden leprosy among the general population in Fedis District, eastern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in six randomly selected leprosy-endemic villages in 2019. Health extension workers identified study participants from the selected villages through active case findings and household contact screening. All consenting individuals were enrolled and underwent a standardized physical examination for diagnosis of leprosy. Overall, 262 individuals (214 with skin lesions suspected for leprosy and 48 household contacts of newly diagnosed leprosy cases) were identified for confirmatory investigation. The slit skin smear technique was employed to perform a bacteriological examination. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profiles were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to assess the association between the outcome variable and predictor variables, and the P-value was set at 0.05. From the 268 individuals identified in the survey, 6 declined consent and 262 (97.8%) were investigated for leprosy. Fifteen cases were confirmed as leprosy, giving a detection rate of 5.7% (95%, CI: 3%, 9%). The prevalence of hidden leprosy cases was 9.3 per 10,000 of the population (15/16107). The majority (93.3%) of the cases were of the multi-bacillary type, and three cases were under 15 years of age. Three cases presented with grade II disability at initial diagnosis. The extent of hidden leprosy was not statistically different based on their sex and contact history difference (p > 0.05). High numbers of leprosy cases were hidden in the community. Active cases findings, and contact screening strategies, play an important role in discovering hidden leprosy. Therefore, targeting all populations living in leprosy pocket areas is required for achieving the leprosy elimination target.

Qualidade de vida de pacientes diagnosticados com hanseníase em um município do Piauí / The quality of life of patients diagnosed with leprosy in a city in Piauí

Objetivo: analisar os domínios de qualidade de vida em pacientes com hanseníase em um município de alta endemicidade do Piauí. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo descritivo e transversal, realizado entre fevereiro e novembro de 2019. Para a coleta de dados, foram utilizados um formulário sociodemográficoe o questionário de qualidade de vida SF-36, sendo as informações analisadas por meio dos testes de U Mann-Whitney que visa comparar a diferença entre dois grupos e o de Kruskal-wallis que pretende comparar a média de duas ou mais amostras independentes. Resultados: participaram do estudo 46 pacientes. Quando avaliadas as variáveis socioeconômicas e clínicas relacionadas aos domínios de qualidade de vida, o "Aspecto emocional" obteve maior média (78,25; dp: 39,88) e a dimensão "Saúde mental" apresentou menor média (45,04; dp: 24,95). Já a variável ocupação relacionou-se negativamente com o estado geral de saúde (p-0,002) e saúde mental (p-0,009). Conclusão: a maior parte das dimensões avaliadas obteve boas pontuações, indicando uma boa qualidade de vida na população estudada, exceto as dimensões referentes a "saúde mental" e "estado geral de saúde" relacionados a variável ocupação, obtendo baixo score e indicando má qualidade de vida nesses últimos.

Objective:To analyze the domains of quality of life in patients with leprosy in a city of Piauí where the disease is highly endemic. Methods:This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out from February to November 2019. For data collection, a sociodemographic form and the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire were used. The information was analyzed using Mann-Whitney's U to compare the difference between two groups and the Kruskal-Wallis test, to compare the mean of two or more independent samples. Results:46 patients participated in the study. When the socioeconomic and clinical variables related with the quality-of-life domains were evaluated, the "Emotional aspect" had the highest mean (78.25; sd: 39.88) while the lowest was found in the "Mental health" dimension (45.04; sd 24.95). The variable occupation had a negative relation with the general state of health (p=0.002) and mental health (p=0.009). Conclusion: Most dimensions evaluated presented a good score, indicating that the quality of life of the population studied was good. The exception were the dimensions "mental health" and "general state of health" when related with the variable occupation, whose score was low, indicating that the quality of life in these dimensions was low.

Detection of anti-M. leprae antibodies in children in leprosy-endemic areas: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy elimination primarily targets transmission of Mycobacterium leprae which is not restricted to patients' households. As interruption of transmission is imminent in many countries, a test to detect infected asymptomatic individuals who can perpetuate transmission is required. Antibodies directed against M. leprae antigens are indicative of M. leprae infection but cannot discriminate between active and past infection. Seroprevalence in young children, however, reflects recent M. leprae infection and may thus be used to monitor transmission in an area. Therefore, this literature review aimed to evaluate what has been reported on serological tests measuring anti-M. leprae antibodies in children without leprosy below the age of 15 in leprosy-endemic areas. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A literature search was performed in the databases Pubmed, Infolep, Web of Science and The Virtual Health Library. From the 724 articles identified through the search criteria, 28 full-text articles fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Two additional papers were identified through snowballing, resulting in a total of 30 articles reporting data from ten countries. All serological tests measured antibodies against phenolic glycolipid-I or synthetic derivatives thereof, either quantitatively (ELISA or UCP-LFA) or qualitatively (ML-flow or NDO-LID rapid test). The median seroprevalence in children in endemic areas was 14.9% and was stable over time if disease incidence remained unchanged. Importantly, seroprevalence decreased with age, indicating that children are a suitable group for sensitive assessment of recent M. leprae infection. However, direct comparison between areas, solely based on the data reported in these studies, was impeded by the use of different tests and variable cut-off levels. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative anti-PGL-I serology in young children holds promise as a screening test to assess M. leprae infection and may be applied as a proxy for transmission and thereby as a means to monitor the effect of (prophylactic) interventions on the route to leprosy elimination.

High-risk transmission clusters of leprosy in an endemic area in the Northeastern Brazil: A retrospective spatiotemporal modelling (2001-2019).

OBJECTIVES: To analyse and map the leprosy risk areas in the state of Alagoas, an endemic region in the Northeastern Brazil, between 2001 and 2019. METHODS: Ecological and time series study, using spatial analysis techniques. First, we analyse the epidemiological aspects of leprosy cases, using the data available in the Notifiable Diseases Information System; then, we used the segmented log-linear regression model to assess time trends. Spatial distribution was analysed by the Local Empirical Bayesian Estimator and by calculating the Global and Local Moran Index. Finally, spatiotemporal clusters were identified through scanning statistics, using the Kulldorf method of retrospective analysis. RESULTS: We observed that Alagoas showed an average new case detection rate of 14.43/100,000 inhabitants between 2001 and 2019, being classified as highly endemic. The area of highest risk was the 9th health region (state hinterland), with increasing time trend (Annual Percentage Change/APC = 7.2; p-value < 0.05). Several clusters of high risk of leprosy transmission were verified in Alagoas, including the state capital and hinterland municipalities. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that active M. leprae transmission persists in Alagoas; that diagnosis is delayed and that there are high-risk areas, especially in inland municipalities.