A study of quality of life of leprosy patients in a tertiary care centre in Kerala

Background: Leprosy is an infectious disease associated with a many stigmas and superstitions, and can affect the Quality of Life (QoL). Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of leprosy on the QoL of the patients and to find out whether there is any association with specific demographic and clinical factors. Material and Methods: The QoL was evaluated for 60 leprosy patients who visited the Dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care facility in Kerala, South India, using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. It was a cross-sectional descriptive research. Results: Of the 60 patients, 23 (38.33%) had no adverse effects on their quality of life due to leprosy, while the remaining patients experienced varied degrees of compromise. The mean DLQI score was 4.03 ± 4.83, which is lower than the previous studies and can be attributed to the people's higher health standards and education level. Significant association was found with clinical factors like site of lesion, nerve palsy, trophic ulcer, and disability. Conclusion: The QoL of individuals afflicted by leprosy is negatively impacted. A lower DLQI score in the study shows that the effect can be reduced with a better health care system and education.