01567nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260002400042653001300066653002800079653001700107653001900124653001200143653001100155100001800166700001500184700001600199700002100215700001800236245007200254856008000326300000800406490000700414520085500421022002501276       2026                            d  bFapUNIFESP (SciELO)10aCovid-1910aLeprosy, Multibacillary10aCo-infection10aPublic health 10aleprosy10aBrazil1 aMedeiros AFSD1 aBatista AL1 aSakamoto SM1 aCavalcanti DMLDP1 aMagalhães RF00aBrazil accounts for nearly 90% of the leprosy cases in the Americas  uhttps://www.scielo.br/j/rsbmt/a/4TvhLp5ncnD4m5n7FYDQvyt/?format=pdf&lang=en  a1-50 v593 a<p><strong>Background: </strong></p>

<p>Leprosy is endemic to Brazil. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have affected diagnosis and treatment.</p>

<p><strong>Methods:</strong></p>

<p>Study in Mossoró-RN (2018-2023) analyzing epidemiological data, treatment abandonment, and COVID-19 co-infection.</p>

<p><strong>Results:</strong></p>

<p>The average weekly number of cases declined during the post-pandemic period. The dropout rate was higher during the acute phase. Male sex was associated with dropout (odds ratio [OR], 6.32; p = 0.013). Of the 57 patients tested for COVID-19, 21 tested positive, with no clinical aggravation.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong></p>

<p>The pandemic has affected leprosy control. Local strategies helped reduce the impact, and co-infection did not worsen the disease.</p>
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