Health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with leprosy in a hyperendemic region, Midwest Brazil

Objective: To analyze the health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with leprosy, as well as the parents’ perception regarding the quality of life of the participating minors.

Method: A cross-sectional controlled study conducted with 185 minors aged from 8 to 18 years, living in two municipalities from the state of “XX”, Midwest Brazil. Those registered in the National Notification System for “XX” (from 2017 to 2019) were considered as minors reported with the disease (n = 37). For the comparison group, healthy minors for the disease (n = 148) were selected, who were residents in the region of origin of the notified cases. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0) instrument was used.

Results: Lower quality of life scores were observed in all domains among children and adolescents with leprosy when compared to the Control Group. The School domain was the most affected, with a mean of 57.54 (SD ± 22.44) in the self-assessment and a mean of 58.89 (SD ± 23.52) in the parents’ perception. There was a moderate correlation between minors with leprosy in the Physical, Social (r = 0.538; p < 0.001) and Psychosocial (r = 0.568; p < 0.001) domains, and a strong correlation in the total score (r = 0.809; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with leprosy is worse when compared to healthy minors. The School domain was the most affected, both in the self-assessment and in the parents’ perception.