title: Assessment of physical impairments in leprosy patients: a comparison between the world health organization (who) disability grade and the Eye-Hand-Foot score.
abstract: This cross-sectional study assessed the grade of physical impairments in 61 individuals with leprosy receiving multidrug therapy (MDT) under the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), and residing in Campina Grande, Paraíba State, Brazil. Impairments were assessed using the disability grade (DG) standardized by the WHO, and the EHF score (Eye-Hand-Foot sum of impairment scores). Impairments were detected in 25 (41%) of the subjects. A total of 14 (23%) patients scored DG 1, while 11 (18%) were assigned DG 2. The EHF score ranged from 1 to 10 points in the group of patients with physical impairments, with a mean score of 3.6 points. The majority of individuals with impairments were affected in at least two sites. We conclude that the EHF score showed overlapping impairments in the segments examined and may be more appropriate than the DG classification system for describing the degree of physical impairment of leprosy patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, BA, Brasil. tulio.raposo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marcos Túlio
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Raposo
authors.forename: Ana Virgínia de Queiroz
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Caminha
authors.forename: Jorg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heukelbach
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-González
authors.forename: Jovany Luis Alves
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
authors.forename: Maria Ines Battistella
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Nemes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult