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. 2016 May-Jun;91(3):311-7.
doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20164102.

Clinical and epidemiological profile of leprosy patients attended at Ceará, 2007-2011

Maria Iranilda Queirós  1 , Alberto Novaes Ramos Júnior  1 , Carlos Henrique Morais Alencar  1 , Lorena Dias Monteiro  1 , Amanda Lima Sena  1 , Jaqueline Caracas Barbosa  1
Affiliations

Clinical and epidemiological profile of leprosy patients attended at Ceará, 2007-2011

Maria Iranilda Queirós et al. An Bras Dermatol. 2016 May-Jun.

Abstract

Background: Leprosy is an infectious chronic condition associated with potentially serious physical, social and psychological impacts.

Objectives: To characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile of leprosy patients treated from 2007 to 2011 in the University Hospital of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil.

Methods: This is a retrospective and descriptive study. The study population consisted of residents in the state of Ceará treated in a dermatology clinic between 2007-2011. Clinical and epidemiological data analyzed were obtained from medical records and from the database of national Information System for Notifiable Diseases.

Results: 475 cases were analyzed, mostly women (51.8%), aged 45-59 years (35.0%) - mean of 45.2 years at diagnosis - with 6.3% of children under 15 , with low education (73.7%), white color (68.8%), residency in the city of Fortaleza (82.3%), and no defined work occupation (59.6%). At diagnosis, most patients were multibacillary (MB) (65.5%), had borderline clinical form (48.0%), and 22.7% had physical disability (8.0% with grade 2), predominantly in MB cases (p <0.001). We observe worsening of disability in 5.1% of cases post-MDT. The proportion of cases with reactional episodes was 42.7%, mainly during MDT (51.2%).

Conclusion: This is the first study conducted in this hospital context, revealing late diagnosis, high burden of disease, hidden endemicity, and high social vulnerability in the state of Ceará. This study reinforces the need to strengthen health care network for timely diagnosis and treatment, aiming at longitudinality of assistance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Degree of disability at di agnosis and dis charge, according to clinical form, in patients assisted at Hospital Universi tário Walter Cantí dio, Fortaleza - CE, 2007-2011
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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