Disability pattern amongst leprosy cases in an urban area (Calcutta)

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, can lead to severe disabilities and deformities if not managed effectively.
• Understanding the prevalence and risk factors for disability and deformity in leprosy is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the disability and deformity rates in a cohort of leprosy patients.
• To identify factors associated with increased risk of disability and deformity in leprosy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1,264 leprosy cases registered between 1987 and 1992.
• Calculation of disability rate (DR), deformity rate, and mean disability index (DI).
• Statistical analysis to assess the impact of age, leprosy type, sex, disease duration, and occupation on disability and deformity.

Main Results:

• A disability rate of 22.31% and a deformity rate of 11.9% were observed.
• Lepromatous (L) leprosy cases exhibited the highest disability (52.75%) and deformity (22.25%) rates.
• Males, older individuals, and those with longer disease duration or occupations involving hard work showed higher disability indices.

Conclusions:

• Leprosy poses a substantial risk of disability and deformity, particularly in lepromatous forms.
• Early detection and management are essential to mitigate long-term complications, especially in high-risk groups.