Impact of Leprosy on the Quality of Life in India: A Decade Post-elimination

Abstract

Background: India contributes to approximately 60% of the global leprosy burden despite declaring elimination in 2005. Leprosy is associated with typical deformities and disabilities, imposing a huge burden on the society’s mental health and economy. More than three million people in India are estimated to suffer from leprosy-related disabilities with the potential for profound social stigma and discrimination. Objectives: This study attempts to document the socio-demographic profile of leprosy patients visiting a public tertiary hospital in Pune to analyze the impact on different domains of the individual’s health and determine the contributory factors thereof. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted among 60 patients with leprosy using the WHOQoL-Bref and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Medical records of the patients were also scrutinized. Results: Most patients (40%) were aged between 31 - 40 years with an equal gender distribution, and 63% belonged to MKS Class 4. According to the WHO QoL Bref, 56.66% of the patients had an overall mean score of less than 50, indicating a poor quality of life with the psychological domain being the most-affected, while the DLQI demonstrated that leprosy had a “very large effect” on the quality of life. The determinants that contributed to deteriorated quality of life were female gender, low socioeconomic status, delayed diagnosis and treatment initiation, multibacillary forms, reactional episodes (particularly Type 2), disability grade (visible impairment), and self- perceived stigma. Conclusions: Leprosy continues to adversely affect the quality of life even a decade after its official elimination. There was good an overall concordance between the WHO QOL-Bref and DLQI questionnaires.