02299nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653003700054100002300091700001400114700001300128700001100141700001200152700001300164700001100177245008600188856011000274300000800384490000700392520165600399022001402055       2022                            d  bMedknow10aAnesthesiology and Pain Medicine1 aSasidharanpillai S1 aDominic S1 aGangan R1 aMinu U1 aSneha K1 aHameed J1 aDevi K00aImpact of lockdown restrictions on treatment of leprosy: A retrospective analysis  uhttps://journals.lww.com/idoj/Fulltext/2022/13030/Impact_of_Lockdown_Restrictions_on_Treatment_of.10.aspx  a3700 v133 a<h3>Context:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown the potential to affect the life of people all over the world either directly or indirectly.</p>

<h3>Aim:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>To assess the impact of lockdown measures on treatment of leprosy among patients who received treatment from a tertiary referral centre.</p>

<h3>Settings and Design:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>A retrospective study was conducted at the dermatology department of a tertiary referral centre.</p>

<h3>Materials and Methods:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>We did a retrospective analysis of case records of patients with leprosy who received treatment from our tertiary referral centre from 01 March 2020 to 31 May 2021.</p>

<h3>Results:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>During the 15-month period, 59 patients received multi-drug therapy (MDT) for leprosy from our centre. Thirty-two patients (54.2%) were already receiving MDT as on March 2020, and 27 others (45.8%) were diagnosed with leprosy and started on MDT during the period from March 2020 to May 2021. Two patients (3.4%) developed COVID-19 while on MDT. When lockdown measures were implemented, 12 patients (12/59, 20.3%) discontinued treatment, citing conveyance difficulties. Three patients (3/59, 5.1%) were lost to follow-up.</p>

<h3>Limitations:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Small sample size and reliance on retrospective data from a single centre were the major limitations of the study.</p>

<h3>Conclusion:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>A conscious effort is needed from healthcare professionals and the government to ensure that implementation of national programmes is not adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
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