The association between age of onset and mortality in lepromatous leprosy

A life-table approach was employed to estimate expectation of survival of the non-leprous members of a population in which leprosy is endemic. The observed survival of members who developed lepromatous leprosy at different ages was compared with that expected after having attained the age at which onset occurred. Those whose onset occurred at later, as opposed to earlier, ages more frequently lived their expected remaining years of life. Survival was not decreased in those whose onset occurred after age 20. It is hypothesized that those whose onset occurs after maturity are more resistant to complications arising from infection with M. leprae which can lead prematurely to death.