Clinical variables associated with disability in leprosy cases in northeast Brazil

Victor Santana Santos; Andressa Mayara Santos de Matos; Lorena Sheila Alves de Oliveira; Ligia Mara Dolce de Lemos; Ricardo Queiroz Gurgel; Francisco Prado Reis; Vanessa Tavares de Gois Santos; Vera Lúcia Corrêa Feitosa

doi:10.3855/jidc.5341

Clinical variables associated with disability in leprosy cases in northeast Brazil

Authors

Victor Santana Santos Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil
Andressa Mayara Santos de Matos Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil
Lorena Sheila Alves de Oliveira Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil
Ligia Mara Dolce de Lemos Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil
Ricardo Queiroz Gurgel Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil
Francisco Prado Reis University of Tiradentes, Brazil
Vanessa Tavares de Gois Santos Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil
Vera Lúcia Corrêa Feitosa Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.5341

Keywords:

leprosy, physical disability, epidemiology

Abstract

Introduction: The clinical outcomes of leprosy include complications such as physical disabilities and deformities that vary according to the degree of impairment of nerve trunks. Knowledge of the factors that lead to the development of these complications is important for disability prevention programs. This study aimed to evaluate clinical factors associated with the occurrence of physical disability in leprosy cases.

Methodology: This was a retrospective study of 2,358 cases of leprosy in Aracaju, northeast Brazil, between 2001 and 2011. Analysis was done using the Chi-square test and logistic regression model.

Results: Significant factors associated with disability were found to be male gender, having more than two affected nerves, multibacillary leprosy classification, leprosy reaction, and lepromatous leprosy. The multivariate analysis revealed that the associated factors included having more than two affected nerves, leprosy reaction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36 to 3.01), the multibacillary form (aOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.84 to 4.08), and lepromatous leprosy (aOR: 4.87, 95% CI: 2.86 to 16.08).

Conclusions: The number of affected nerves, leprosy reaction, operational classification, and clinical presentation were identified as the main factors associated with the development of disability in leprosy patients.

Author Biographies

Victor Santana Santos, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil.

Department of Nursing, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Andressa Mayara Santos de Matos, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Department of Nursing, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Lorena Sheila Alves de Oliveira, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Department of Nursing, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Ligia Mara Dolce de Lemos, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Department of Nursing, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Ricardo Queiroz Gurgel, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Francisco Prado Reis, University of Tiradentes, Brazil

Technological Research Institute, University of Tiradentes, Brazil

Vanessa Tavares de Gois Santos, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Vera Lúcia Corrêa Feitosa, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

Department of Morphology, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil

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Published

2015-03-02

How to Cite

Santos VS, Santos de Matos AM, Alves de Oliveira LS, Dolce de Lemos LM, Gurgel RQ, Reis FP, Tavares de Gois Santos V, Feitosa VLC (2015) Clinical variables associated with disability in leprosy cases in northeast Brazil. J Infect Dev Ctries 9:232–238. doi: 10.3855/jidc.5341

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Issue

Vol. 9 No. 03: March 2015

Section

Original Articles

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