01874nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001100054653001200065653001700077653001200094100001200106700001200118700001400130245007200144856004700216300000800263490000700271520136400278022001401642       2020                            d  c01/202010aBrazil10aElderly10aEpidemiology10aleprosy1 aRocha M1 aNobre M1 aGarcia LP00aTemporal trend of leprosy among the elderly in Brazil, 2001 - 2018.  uhttps://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/51861  ae120 v443 a<p><b>Objective: </b>To describe the temporal trends of leprosy indicators among the elderly in Brazil in 2001 - 2018.</p><p><b>Methods: </b>This was an ecological time-series study of new leprosy cases in the elderly reported to the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Prais-Winsten generalized linear regression was used to estimate temporal variations.</p><p><b>Results: </b>There were 687 317 new leprosy cases in Brazil from 2001 - 2018, of which 129 214 (18.8%) were among elderly people. Overall detection rates in the elderly and of new cases with grade-2 disability showed a falling trend, with an annual percent change of -4.6% (95%CI = -5.1 to -4.0) and -3.9% (95%CI = -4.6 to -3.2). New case and new multibacillary case proportions showed an increasing trend, with an annual percent change of 2.9% (95%CI = 2.6 to 3.3) and 1.4% (95%CI = 1.0 to 1.7), respectively. Detection rates for new leprosy cases in elderly people in Brazil are decreasing, but the proportion of new cases and multibacillary cases are trending upwards.</p><p><b>Conclusions: </b>New cases are shifting to older age groups, and demographic transition and immunosenescence are an influence. Inadequate reduction of grade-2 disability indicates a high risk of physical disability persists. Improved contact tracing and more effective action are needed in this age group.</p>  a1680-5348