title: Factors associated with neural alterations and physical disabilities in patients with leprosy in São Luis, State of Maranhão, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk factors that are associated with neural alterations and physical disabilities in leprosy patients at the time of diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 155 leprosy patients who participated in a program that aimed to eliminate leprosy from São Luis, State of Maranhão.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who were 31-45 years of age, were older than 60 years of age or had a partner were more likely to have a disability. Patients with partners were 1.14 times more likely (p = 0.025) to have disabilities of the hands. The frequency of disabilities in the feet among the patients with different clinical forms of leprosy was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identification of risk factors that are associated with neural alterations and physical disabilities in leprosy patients is important for diagnosing the disease because this approach enables physicians to plan and prioritize actions for the treatment and monitoring of patients.
authors.affiliation: Área da Saúde, Universidade Ceuma, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Ana Eugenia Ribeiro de Araujo E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Dorlene Maria Cardoso de
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabela Maria Bernardes
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Goulart
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Silma Regina Ferreira
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Ivan Abreu
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Humberto Oliveira
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: Setor de Nutrição de Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG.
authors.forename: Poliana Cristina
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: de Almeida Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA.
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Jesus Mendes Caldas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult