TY - JOUR AU - Niitsuma ENA AU - Bueno IDC AU - Arantes E AU - Carvalho A AU - Junior G AU - Fernandes G AU - Lana FCF AB -

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors associated with leprosy in contacts of patients.

METHOD: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching the databases MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, LILACS, Scopus, and Web of Science until September 2019. Four reviewers carried out the selection, analysis, and evaluation of quality of studies. The random effects model was used to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) when heterogeneity was greater than 50%.

RESULTS: The search resulted in 2,148 references and included 24 reports. Most of the studies had been conducted in Brazil and India, had a cohort design and included household, neighbors, and social contacts. The risk factors associated with illness due to leprosy in contacts were: illiteracy (RR = 1,48; 95%CI 1,22 - 1,79), living in the same house (RR = 2,41; 95%CI 1,87 - 3,10) of a case of leprosy with high bacillary load (RR = 2.40; 95%CI 1.69 - 3.41), seropositivity to the Mycobacterium leprae PGL-1 (phenolic glycolipid-1) antigen (RR = 3.54; 95%CI 2.21 - 5.67), presence of the bacillus in the bloodstream (RR = 10.61; 95%CI 4.74 - 23.77) and negative Mitsuda reaction (RR = 2,68; 95%CI 1,76 - 4,07). Immunization with BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine had a protective effect against leprosy.

CONCLUSION: Leprosy in contacts of patients involves social determination, individual susceptibility, and difficulties in access to disease control actions, but modifiable risk factors are the main determinants of illness in this population.

BT - Revista brasileira de epidemiologia = Brazilian journal of epidemiology C1 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34231829 DA - 01/2021 DO - 10.1590/1980-549720210039 J2 - Rev Bras Epidemiol LA - por, eng N2 -

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors associated with leprosy in contacts of patients.

METHOD: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching the databases MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, LILACS, Scopus, and Web of Science until September 2019. Four reviewers carried out the selection, analysis, and evaluation of quality of studies. The random effects model was used to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) when heterogeneity was greater than 50%.

RESULTS: The search resulted in 2,148 references and included 24 reports. Most of the studies had been conducted in Brazil and India, had a cohort design and included household, neighbors, and social contacts. The risk factors associated with illness due to leprosy in contacts were: illiteracy (RR = 1,48; 95%CI 1,22 - 1,79), living in the same house (RR = 2,41; 95%CI 1,87 - 3,10) of a case of leprosy with high bacillary load (RR = 2.40; 95%CI 1.69 - 3.41), seropositivity to the Mycobacterium leprae PGL-1 (phenolic glycolipid-1) antigen (RR = 3.54; 95%CI 2.21 - 5.67), presence of the bacillus in the bloodstream (RR = 10.61; 95%CI 4.74 - 23.77) and negative Mitsuda reaction (RR = 2,68; 95%CI 1,76 - 4,07). Immunization with BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine had a protective effect against leprosy.

CONCLUSION: Leprosy in contacts of patients involves social determination, individual susceptibility, and difficulties in access to disease control actions, but modifiable risk factors are the main determinants of illness in this population.

PY - 2021 EP - e210039 T2 - Revista brasileira de epidemiologia = Brazilian journal of epidemiology TI - Factors associated with the development of leprosy in contacts: a systematic review and meta-analysis. UR - https://www.scielo.br/j/rbepid/a/6yRXLPSd7gnJ7RTFqJ5mqTb/?lang=en&format=pdf VL - 24 SN - 1980-5497 ER -