Qualidade de vida dos pacientes com incapacidades decorrentes da hanseníase numa região endêmica do Norte de Mato Grosso

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic and infectious disease of great importance for public health, capable of causing neuromotor impairment and physical disabilities and deformities, which can lead to reduced quality of life, mainly affecting the economically active age group of the population. The aim of this study was to analyze the quality of life of individuals with grade I and grade II disabilities resulting from leprosy treated at a Reference Center in the North of Mato Grosso. This is a descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach, using the SF-36 instrument and a questionnaire of the epidemiological, sociodemographic and occupational profile, constructed by the author. Data collection was carried out at the Leprosy Reference Center located in an endemic region of northern Mato Grosso from February to June 2021 with a sample of 86 people affected by leprosy with some degree of disability. Statistical analysis was performed using EpiData, Excel, GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 and StatsDirect 1.9.15 statistical software. Fridman's tests were applied, after application of the D'Agostino & Pearson test, Logistic Regression and determination of Relative Risk through the Fischer test, with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05) previously fixed for associations. This study was developed after approval by the Research Ethics Committee nº 3.988.703 of the Federal University of Mato Grosso, campus Sinop. It was found that most participants were female (65.12%), aged between 46 and 60 years (47.67%), non-white (65.12%), married (37.21%), with complete high school (24.42%), with a family income of 1 to 3 minimum wages (84.88%), sedentary (61.63%), undergoing treatment for less than 1 year (45.35%) and with grade I of physical disability (80.23%). When analyzing the interviewees quality of life, it was noticed that all domains had a median below 50, and the domains with higher median values (better performance) were Mental Health (40), Social Aspects (37.5) and General Health Status (37), and the domains with the lowest median values (worst performance) were found in Limitations by Physical Aspects (0), Limitations by Emotional Aspects (0), Pain (20) and Functional Capacity (20). Associations were found between quality of life and sex, age, marital status, family income, occupation, education and length of treatment. It is believed that these findings can provide guidance for the actions of health professionals, with the aim of outlining goals and strategies aimed at the impaired domains and the determinants that lead to a decrease in the quality of life of these individuals.