Disability‐adjusted life years due to leptospirosis in Monaragala District of Sri Lanka

Abstract

AbstractLeptospirosis is a zoonotic infection with significant morbidity and mortality. As an occupational disease, it has become a global concern due to its disease burden in endemic countries and rural areas. The aim of this study was to assess disease burden in terms of Disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) of leptospirosis.A hospital‐based descriptive cross‐sectional study was conducted using 450 clinically diagnosed leptospirosis patients admitted to base and above hospitals in Monaragala District, Sri Lanka, using a pre‐tested interviewer‐administered questionnaire. The patients were followed up until normal day‐to‐day life after discharge. Estimation of DALYs was done using laboratory‐confirmed leptospirosis patients. Leptospirosis disease burden in Monaragala District was 44.9 DALYs per 100,000 population, which includes 33.18 Years of life losts and 10.9 YLDs. The incidence of leptospirosis in Monaragala District during the study period was 59.8 per 100,000 population, and the case fatality rate (CFR) was 1.5% and 75% of deaths were among males.The disease burden of leptospirosis in Monaragala District was significantly high and urgent efforts to control and prevent leptospirosis should be a priority.