Epidemiological Situation of Leprosy in a Province in China: a Long Time to Diagnosis and a High Rate of Deformity

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2020 Nov 26

PMID 33238966

Citations 10

Authors

Qing-Ping Zhang

Ge Li

Chao Li

Zhao-Xing Lin

Ping Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: This epidemiological study aimed to analyse both the distribution and characteristics of leprosy in an endemic province in Northwest China.

Methods: The medical records of leprosy patients in the province of Shaanxi, China, from 1998 to 2018 were collected from the Chinese Leprosy Management Information System (LEPMIS). Epidemiological variables were analysed in this study.

Results: A total of 477 new cases were diagnosed between 1998 and 2018 in this region. The average annual detection rate was 0.070/100,000 population, and the average annual prevalence was 0.305/100,000 population. The mean age of the newly diagnosed patients was 46.7 years, and the ratio of males to females was 2.5:1. There were 399 cases (83.6%) of multibacillary (MB) leprosy. One hundred forty-eight patients (31.0%) had grade 2 disability. The mean diagnosis time for new cases was 62.0 months.

Conclusion: This epidemiological study showed that the characteristics of newly diagnosed leprosy cases in our province were a long time to diagnosis and a high rate of deformity, indicating the need for actions focusing on early diagnosis and treatment and strengthening the detection of leprosy in low-prevalence areas.

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