01979nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001653001700042653002600059653002800085653001200113653002300125653001100148653002400159653002100183653002600204653001100230100001200241700001400253700001600267700001400283245010200297856005100399300001100450490000700461520120700468022001401675       2015                            d10aRisk Factors10aRetrospective Studies10aNervous System Diseases10aleprosy10aLeprostatic Agents10aHumans10aDisease Progression10aDisabled Persons10aDisability Evaluation10aBrazil1 aCosta L1 aCortela D1 aSoares RCFR1 aIgnotti E00aFactors associated with the worsening of the disability grade during leprosy treatment in Brazil.  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/86/3/26-5272  a265-720 v863 a<p><strong>OBJECTIVES: </strong>To analyse factors associated with the worsening of physical disabilities during the treatment of leprosy in Brazil in cases that were newly diagnosed in 2009.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>This epidemiological study performed as a retrospective cohort investigated the factors associated with the worsening of the physical disability grade during the treatment of paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy cases. Logistic regression with a confidence interval of 95% was used to analyse the variables associated with the worsening of disability grade.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>The cases with the greatest odds for worsening physical disability grade were patients from the south (odds ratio [OR] = 2.60) and southeast regions (OR = 1.74); with multibacillary disease (OR = 3.48); who were illiterate (OR = 2.26); and with reactive episodes (OR = 2.42).</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>The factors associated with higher odds of worsening physical disability during treatment demonstrate failure to apply appropriate remedial measures to prevent disabilities, and greater attention should be given to patients with the most severe disease.</p>
  a0305-7518