Health-Related Quality of Life of People Living with Hansen’s Disease Undergoing Multidrug Therapy

Background: Multidrug therapy (MDT) is the cornerstone of treatment for Hansen’s disease. We aimed to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with Hansen’s disease undergoing MDT. Methods: Sixty-six people of any sex, aged 18 and older, undergoing MDT, without adverse reactions, were enrolled as outpatients at a public health service in Salvador, Brazil. A physical examination was performed, during which the Simplified Neurological Evaluation Form was used to determine the Degree of Physical Disability. The HRQoL was evaluated using the RAND-36 questionnaire and its Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS). Results: The PCS and MCS were negatively associated with pain and positively associated with the Degree of Physical Disability after controlling for MDT duration, bacilloscopy, schooling, race/color, age, sex, and monthly income; the PCS was negatively associated with smoking. Patients who reported pain had a PCS 14.282 percent units lower than those who did not report it, and patients that reported pain had an MCS 6.762 units lower. Differences in such magnitude are clinically important for patients with Hansen’s disease being treated with MDT. Conclusion: Pain and the Degree of Physical Disability are strongly associated with the HRQoL of patients with Hansen’s disease undergoing MDT.