title: Quality of life of leprosy sequelae patients living in a former leprosarium under home care: univariate analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life (QoL) is a broad concept that has become more important during the last decades. Despite this fact, few studies have been conducted to evaluate leprosy patients, none of which has specifically addressed patients with leprosy sequels submitted to home care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the QoL of leprosy sequel bearers and the factors that may affect their perception of their condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  WHOQoL-BREF, a questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization, was administered to 32 people living in the coverage area of a former leprosarium. Patient socio-demographic and care-related caregiver data were collected. Activities of daily living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scales were used to evaluate autonomy. Mini-Mental Status Examination was used to evaluate cognitive status. Simple linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistical Software and the non-standardized beta values were presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients were mainly female, widowed, elderly, with bone sequels; all had impairment of at least one Instrumental Daily Living Activity. QoL scores were 12.35 in a 4-20 scale (52.18 %) in the physical domain, 12.95 (55.94 %) in the psychological health domain, 13.18 (57.40 %) in the environment domain, and 16.09 (75.56 %) in the social domain. Univariate analysis suggests that instrumental daily activity "capacity of shopping," marital status, and caregiver age were associated with self-perceived QoL. Data were also compared to those from other studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals affected by leprosy had low QoL scores in the physical and psychological health domains and high scores in the social domain. The factors that impact their QoL seem to be related to specific conditions found in the leprosarium and the previous isolation practices.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, Brazil, leosavassi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Leonardo Cançado Monteiro
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Savassi
authors.forename: Tatiana Roberta Sarubi
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Bogutchi
authors.forename: Anna Carolina Lustosa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Celina Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Modena
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000523:psychology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010465:Perception; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization