PREVENTION OF IMPAIRMENT IN LEPROSY - RESULTS FROM A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT IN CHINA

Objective-to evaluate programs of prevention and treatment of impairme nts due to leprosy in 8 geographical areas in the People's Republic of China. Design-follow up of cohorts of leprosy patients receiving a ra nge of different interventions. Setting-8 different geographical areas in China, varying in urban and rural characteristics from 6 provinces and 2 municipalities. Subjects-leprosy patients who were receiving or had completed a course of antileprosy chemotherapy. Interventions-a r ange of interventions, including steroids, self-care training, adapted footwear, surgery and provision of protheses. Main outcome measures - changes in eye, hand and foot impairments between baseline assessment and assessment at 2 years. Results-232 out of 3571 patients assessed monthly over 2 years developed acute neuritis and, in most areas, were promptly and adequately treated. Regular self care of eyes was establ ished in 238 out of 313 patients with lagophthalmos and was associated with reduction in the prevalence of conjunctivitis. Regular self care of hands was established in 730 out of 1010 patients with neurologica l impairment of the hand; this was associated with a reduction (80%) i n hand cracks and wounds. Regular self care of feet was established in 745 out of 1094 patients with neurological impairment of the feet; th is was associated with a 83% reduction in patients with cracks and a 3 3% reduction in patients with sole wounds. A footwear program was esta blished in all 8 areas providing footwear to 4698 patients over the 2- year period; this was associated with a reduction of 61% and 21% in pa tients with cracks and wounds, respectively. Management of complicated sole wounds in 256 patients resulted in 69% of these patients being f ree of sole wounds at 2 years. Targets for reconstructive surgery and amputations were not fully attained, but lower limb prostheses were pr ovided for 306 patients. Conclusions - leprosy is a chronic disease ch aracterized by peripheral neuropathies which can result in increasing secondary impairments and disabilities. The emphasis, in countries suc h as China where the chemotherapy programs have been effectively imple mented, is shifting to prevention and treatment of impairments. This i nnovative program in China has successfully demonstrated that it is po ssible to prevent and reverse impairments due to leprosy.