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Impact of Lockdown Restrictions on Treatment of Leprosy: A Retrospective Analysis
Swapna Dominic1, Sarita Sasidharanpillai1, Reshmi Gangan2
1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
Insights
COVID-19 lockdown measures disrupted leprosy treatment for 20.3% of patients due to transport issues. This highlights the need for continued healthcare access during pandemics.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health services.
- Leprosy treatment requires consistent multi-drug therapy (MDT) for effective management.
- Lockdown measures implemented to control COVID-19 may have affected chronic disease care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of COVID-19 lockdown measures on the continuity of leprosy treatment.
- To identify challenges faced by leprosy patients during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of leprosy patient records was performed.
- Data from a tertiary referral center covered the period from March 2020 to May 2021.
- Patient treatment adherence and reasons for discontinuation were examined.
Main Results:
- Out of 59 patients on multi-drug therapy (MDT), 12 (20.3%) discontinued treatment due to conveyance difficulties during lockdown.
- Three patients (5.1%) were lost to follow-up.
- Two patients (3.4%) contracted COVID-19 while undergoing MDT.
Conclusions:
- Lockdown measures posed significant challenges to leprosy treatment adherence.
- Healthcare systems must ensure uninterrupted care for chronic conditions during pandemics.
- Proactive strategies are needed to mitigate the impact of public health crises on leprosy control programs.
Context:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown the potential to affect the life of people all over the world either directly or indirectly.
Aim:
To assess the impact of lockdown measures on treatment of leprosy among patients who received treatment from a tertiary referral centre.
Settings And Design:
A retrospective study was conducted at the dermatology department of a tertiary referral centre.
Materials And Methods:
We did a retrospective analysis of case records of patients with leprosy who received treatment from our tertiary referral centre from 01 March 2020 to 31 May 2021.
Results:
During the 15-month period, 59 patients received multi-drug therapy (MDT) for leprosy from our centre. Thirty-two patients (54.2%) were already receiving MDT as on March 2020, and 27 others (45.8%) were diagnosed with leprosy and started on MDT during the period from March 2020 to May 2021. Two patients (3.4%) developed COVID-19 while on MDT. When lockdown measures were implemented, 12 patients (12/59, 20.3%) discontinued treatment, citing conveyance difficulties. Three patients (3/59, 5.1%) were lost to follow-up.
Limitations:
Small sample size and reliance on retrospective data from a single centre were the major limitations of the study.
Conclusion:
A conscious effort is needed from healthcare professionals and the government to ensure that implementation of national programmes is not adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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