Clinical-epidemiological characteristics and temporal trend of new cases of grade 2 disability leprosy in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, 2011- 2020Objective: to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of new cases of grade 2 disability leprosy and to analyze its trend in the state of Maranhão, from 2011 to 2020.
Methods: this was a descriptive cross-sectional and ecological time-series study, using data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System. A descriptive analysis of the event was carried out according to the sociodemographic and clinical-laboratory characteristics of the cases. The temporal trend of event incidence was analyzed using Prais-Winsten regression.
Results: of the 2,147 cases, 71.5% were male, 48.9% had up to 8 years of schooling, 66.5% were of mixed race/color, 95.5% had the multibacillary form, 58.8% were borderline, 32.3% had negative bacilloscopy at diagnosis. There was a stationary trend in the state and a falling trend in the São Luís Health Region (annual percentage change = -64.4%; 95% confidence interval: -73.7;-51.9).
Conclusion: incidence trend was stable in the state of Maranhão and falling in São Luís.
Keywords:
Leprosy; Epidemiology; Incidence; Degree of Physical Disability; Time Series Study
Main results Out of 2,147 grade 2 disability leprosy cases, the majority were male, of mixed race/skin color, multibacillary and borderline. The São Luís regional health unit showed a falling trend.
Implications for services The results can guide strategies for the leprosy control program in the state, aiming at new approaches towards early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disabilities.
Perspectives Further studies are needed, such as spatial distribution of cases and detection rates of leprosy in children under 15 years of age, in order to gain a better understanding of the epidemiological profile of leprosy in Maranhão.