Quality of life of People with Leprosy-induced Disabilities

• Leprosy is a debilitating infectious disease prevalent in Brazil, India and Vietnam. The Authors sought to assess disabilities and impairment of quality of life in Ho Chi Minh City, Southern Vietnam.
• Study:
  • 160 patients with leprosy induced disabilites answered a questionnaire
  • WHO quality of life-BREFassessment questionnaire
• Results from the BREF questionnaire; scores:
  • physical subdomain score  22.66 +/- 4.96   (normal minimum 10, normal maximum: 33)
  • mental subdomain score 24.98 +/- 3.8 (10-30)
  • social subdomain score 77.07 +/- 11.31 (3-15)
  • environmental subdomain score 77.07 +/- 11.31 (15-35)
  • overall score 77.01 +/- 11.31 (46-104)
• Conclusion:
  • The scores suggest an impairment which can translate into the following impairments in Vietnam:
    • participation in festivals
    • recreational activities

Comment: although the last 3 values are identical, such scores do suggest that quality of life is severely impaired in leprosy and that quality of life measurement is important.

Contributors

Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of Information: Diep LN – Quality of life of People with Leprosy-related Disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City. 2014 (4) – 21st Regional Conference of Dermatology; Danang (Vietnam)