Association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the State of Minas Gerais

Introduction In addition to the common alterations and diseases inherent in the aging process, elderly persons with a history of leprosy are particularly vulnerable to dependence because of disease-related impairments. Objective determine whether physical impairment from leprosy is associated with...

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Main Authors: Alisson da Costa Silva, Raquel Conceição Ferreira, Maria Aparecida Alves Ferreira, Marco Túlio de Freitas Ribeiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014-04-01
Series:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822014000200212&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Alisson da Costa Silva
Raquel Conceição Ferreira
Maria Aparecida Alves Ferreira
Marco Túlio de Freitas Ribeiro
author_facet Alisson da Costa Silva
Raquel Conceição Ferreira
Maria Aparecida Alves Ferreira
Marco Túlio de Freitas Ribeiro
author_sort Alisson da Costa Silva
collection DOAJ
description Introduction In addition to the common alterations and diseases inherent in the aging process, elderly persons with a history of leprosy are particularly vulnerable to dependence because of disease-related impairments. Objective determine whether physical impairment from leprosy is associated with dependence among the elderly. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study of elderly individuals with a history of leprosy and no signs of cognitive impairment was conducted using a database from a former leprosy colony-hospital. The patients were evaluated for dependence in the basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), respectively) and subjected to standard leprosy physical disability grading. Subsequently, descriptive and univariate analyses were conducted, the latter using Pearson's chi-squared test. Results A total of 186 elderly persons were included in the study. Of these individuals, 53.8% were women, 49.5% were older than 75 years of age, 93% had four or less years of formal education, 24.2% lived in an institution for the long-term care of the elderly (ILTC), and 18.3% had lower limb amputations. Among those evaluated, 79.8% had visible physical impairments from leprosy (grade 2), 83.3% were independent in BADL, and 10.2% were independent in IADL. There was a higher impairment grade among those patients who were IADL dependent (p=0.038). Conclusion s: The leprosy physical impairment grade is associated with dependence for IADL, creating the need for greater social support and systematic monitoring by a multidisciplinary team. The results highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of leprosy to prevent physical impairment and dependence in later years.
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spelling doaj.art-b397393dc7374593a50ff1b6e29600d12022-12-22T03:35:55ZengSociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical1678-98492014-04-0147221221710.1590/0037-8682-0012-2014S0037-86822014000200212Association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the State of Minas GeraisAlisson da Costa SilvaRaquel Conceição FerreiraMaria Aparecida Alves FerreiraMarco Túlio de Freitas RibeiroIntroduction In addition to the common alterations and diseases inherent in the aging process, elderly persons with a history of leprosy are particularly vulnerable to dependence because of disease-related impairments. Objective determine whether physical impairment from leprosy is associated with dependence among the elderly. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study of elderly individuals with a history of leprosy and no signs of cognitive impairment was conducted using a database from a former leprosy colony-hospital. The patients were evaluated for dependence in the basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), respectively) and subjected to standard leprosy physical disability grading. Subsequently, descriptive and univariate analyses were conducted, the latter using Pearson's chi-squared test. Results A total of 186 elderly persons were included in the study. Of these individuals, 53.8% were women, 49.5% were older than 75 years of age, 93% had four or less years of formal education, 24.2% lived in an institution for the long-term care of the elderly (ILTC), and 18.3% had lower limb amputations. Among those evaluated, 79.8% had visible physical impairments from leprosy (grade 2), 83.3% were independent in BADL, and 10.2% were independent in IADL. There was a higher impairment grade among those patients who were IADL dependent (p=0.038). Conclusion s: The leprosy physical impairment grade is associated with dependence for IADL, creating the need for greater social support and systematic monitoring by a multidisciplinary team. The results highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of leprosy to prevent physical impairment and dependence in later years.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822014000200212&lng=en&tlng=enLeprosy (Hansen's disease)ElderlyDependence
spellingShingle Alisson da Costa Silva
Raquel Conceição Ferreira
Maria Aparecida Alves Ferreira
Marco Túlio de Freitas Ribeiro
Association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the State of Minas Gerais
Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Leprosy (Hansen's disease)
Elderly
Dependence
title Association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the State of Minas Gerais
title_full Association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the State of Minas Gerais
title_fullStr Association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the State of Minas Gerais
title_full_unstemmed Association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the State of Minas Gerais
title_short Association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the State of Minas Gerais
title_sort association between the degree of physical impairment from leprosy and dependence in activities of daily living among the elderly in a health unit in the state of minas gerais
topic Leprosy (Hansen's disease)
Elderly
Dependence
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822014000200212&lng=en&tlng=en
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