Leprosy patients with deformities at post‐elimination stage: The Bangladesh experience

Abstract Background Disability assessment in leprosy patients is a very important factor in the evaluation of the effectiveness of a leprosy elimination program. Little information exists on deformities in leprosy patients in Bangladesh. Objectives To describe the pattern and prevalence of deformities in leprosy patients after leprosy has been declared eliminated from Bangladesh in 1998. Methods A descriptive retrospective cross‐sectional study was carried out in Chittagong Medical College Hospital using the registered records of patients for the period 2004–2013. Results Out of 670 leprosy patients, 213 (31.79%) had deformities. The prevalence of deformity was for grade 1: 92 (43.20%), for grade 2: 121 (56.80%). Among the patients with deformity, males 144 (67.60%) outnumbered females 69 (32.40%). Four age groups were considered. The calculated age‐specific cumulative detection rates showed the highest case detection in >40 years group at 81 (38.02%). The rate of children (