Trend of leprosy detection rate in Brazil, 1990 to 2016

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the trend of detection of the disease in Brazil from 1990 to 2016. The joinpoint regression model was used. There was a significant trend of decreased detection in the country (average annual percent change −1.8%) and in the South (average annual percent change = −3.5%) and Southeast regions (average annual percent change = −4.5%). The Northeast (average annual percent change = 0.2%), the Central-West (average annual percent change = −1.5%), and the North (average annual percent change = −2.6%) showed a stationary trend (p > 0.05). Eleven states showed a decreasing trend. Alagoas (average annual percent change = 2.1%) and Rio Grande do Norte (average annual percent change = 1.4%) presented significant increase (p < 0.001). The heterogeneous pattern of trend between regions and states shows that efforts are needed to eliminate the disease.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of leprosy in Brazil: An ecological and population-based study

“… 13 , 37 , 38 Northeast, North, and Midwest regions present the highest prevalence rates and represent the poorest areas of the country. 37 , 39 , 40 …”

Leprosy incidence and risk estimates in a 33-year contact cohort of leprosy patients

“…In Brazil specifically, 28,660 new cases were registered in 2018. Studies show that although there is a downward trend in the detection rate of new cases in the country over the past 10 years 5 , some changes in the epidemiological features, such as increased incidence among older people developing leprosy, were observed 6 , 7 , while some regions still show stagnant or increasing rates 8 . In particular, leprosy persists in the north and northeast regions as a critical public health problem 9 , 10 , demonstrating the heterogeneity of the epidemic in Brazil.…”

High‐risk transmission clusters of leprosy in an endemic area in the Northeastern Brazil: A retrospective spatiotemporal modelling (2001–2019)

“…Likewise, there was no significant reduction in the annual incidence rate, with detection rates still high, especially in states in the poorer regions of the North and Northeast. Corroborating that, a study conducted by Souza et al [7] demonstrated that despite the advances achieved in Brazil, the average detection rate in the period (1990–2016) was 22.13/100,000 inhabitants, classifying the country as very high endemicity for leprosy.…”

“…Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease. Due to cultural issues (such as stigma and fear of isolation) and the precariousness of health services, long delays of up to 10 years in the diagnosis of leprosy patients have been reported in many regions of Brazil [5,7]. In such circumstances, leprosy can progress to more severe forms (such as multibacillary – MB), which increases the risk of spreading the bacillus and maintains the transmission's cycle in endemic areas [5].…”

“…In the state of Alagoas, the detection rate is 8.13/100,000 inhabitants. Surprisingly, cases have been also identified among children under 15 years in the state, considered a serious indicator of active and recent transmission of the disease [7].…”