Background Leprosy can be cured, but physical disability (PD) as a result of the infection can progress in the post-release from treatment phase. This study evaluated the likelihood of, and factors associated with, the progression of the PD grade post-release from treatment among leprosy patients treated in Cáceres-MT, Brazil in the period 2000 to 2017. Methods A retrospective cohort study and survival analysis were performed in the hyperendemic municipality of Cáceres in the state of Mato Grosso. The study population consisted of newly diagnosed leprosy patients released from treatment between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2017. The main outcome was the progression of the PD grade with regard to probability and time; and the evaluated covariates included clinical, operational and demographic variables. The Cox proportional risk model was used to estimate the risk ratio (Hazard Ratios) of the covariates. Both an univariate and a multivariate analysis were implemented, with 95% confidence intervals. Results The mean time for progression of the PD grade was 162 months for PB and 151 months for MB leprosy patients. The survival curve showed that 15 years after the release from treatment, the probability of PD grade progression was 35%, with no difference between PB and MB or age groups. Leprosy reactions and registered medical complaints of any kind during treatment were identified as risk factors with Hazard Ratios of 1.6 and 1.8 respectively. Conclusions People released from treatment as cured of leprosy are susceptible to worsening of the PD, especially those who have had complications during multi-drug therapy treatment. This indicates that leprosy patients should be periodically monitored, even after the successful completion of multidrug therapy.

Resumo As orientações para prevenção de incapacidades físicas por hanseníase vêm ganhando destaque no controle da doença para além da poliquimioterapia. O objetivo deste artigo é descrever as mudanças, de forma cronológica, nas orientações técnicas para prevenção das incapacidades físicas por hanseníase no Brasil. Trata-se de relato histórico baseado em documentos oficiais dos órgãos de saúde brasileiros. Foram incluídos todos os decretos, portarias e manuais que fizeram menção à prevenção de incapacidades, publicados entre 1962 e 2016. Os documentos estabeleceram os critérios clínicos, técnicos, assistenciais, emocionais e sociais, de direcionamento das ações de prevenção nas instituições de saúde. As publicações foram coordenadas pelo Ministério da Saúde e adequadas ao longo dos anos sob o ponto de vista conceitual, político, estratégico e assistencial. As orientações abrangeram, principalmente, as atividades de avaliação neurológica e do grau de incapacidade física, técnicas de prevenção de incapacidades e autocuidado. As incapacidades físicas refletem a qualidade do acesso ao diagnóstico, do acompanhamento dos casos durante o tratamento e pós-alta por cura. Os serviços de saúde deverão ser organizados não apenas para o diagnóstico e oferta da poliquimioterapia, mas para todos os aspectos que envolvem a doença.

taxa de p o s itiv id a d e g lo b a l para 29,5% . Nessa m icro-área fo ra m exam inados 125 pessoas pela R FC e p e lo xe n o d ia g n ó stico , encontrando-se um a p o s itiv id a d e de 7,2%. Desses p o s itiv o s , 55% residem em casas com a n im a l p o s itiv o , sendo que duas casas apresentaram duas pessoas p o s itiv a s cada. Do to ta l de xenos som ente d ois fo ra m p o s iti vos. Na m icro-área fo ra m ca ptu ra d os 4 0 5 tria to m fn e o s , com 27,7% p o s itiv o s , d e n tro e fo ra das casas (g a lin h e iro s, cu rrais, paredes externas, te lh e iro s e alpendres). A espécie prevalente é o Triatoma brasiliensis (93,5% ), e nco ntra da d e n tro das casas (52,8% ) com taxa de infecçã o de 3 0 £ % e fo ra das casas (47,2% ) com 24,6% de infecção. N o to ta l da região exam inada na pesquisa a n te rio r, as taxas de infecçã o fo ra m 19,6% d e n tro das casas

Background Leprosy is a treatable disease; however, the release from treatment after completion of multidrug therapy (MDT) often does not equal absence of health problems. Consequently, sequelae interfere with the patient’s perception of cure. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors associated with the perception of not being healed among people treated for leprosy in a highly endemic area in Brazil. Method A cross-sectional study of perceived cure of leprosy in the post-release from treatment period was conducted in Cáceres in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The study included a total of 390 leprosy patients treated with MDT and released after completion of treatment from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2017. The dependent variable was self-reported cure of leprosy; the independent variables included clinical, operational and socioeconomic variables. Results Out of the 390 former leprosy patients, 304 (77.9%) perceived themselves as cured and 86 (22.1%) considered themselves unhealed. Among the latter, 49 (57.0%) reported muscle weakness and joint pains. Individuals with complaints related to leprosy post-release from treatment had a 4.6 times higher chance to self-report as unhealed (OR 4.6; 95% CI 2.5–8.5). Patients with physical disabilities (PD) grade 1 and 2 at the time of the study had a 3.1 (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.3–7.4) and 8.8 (OR 7.7; 95% CI 3.5–21.9) times higher likelihood to self-identify as unhealed, respectively. Conclusion Among successfully treated leprosy patients, a quarter self-report as unhealed of the disease. The factors associated with the perception of being unhealed are PD and complaints related to leprosy in the post-release from treatment phase.