An investigation of life quality in 121 cured leprosy patients, Linyi City

Objective To investigate the life quality of cured leprosy patients in Linyi City, China, and provide scientific suggestions for improving patients' life quality and health condition. Methods A total of 121 cured leprosy patients in Linyi City were selected as subjects by random sampling method. Using the modified version 2 of the SF-36 health survey (SF-36v2), the subjects were surveyed face to face for analysis and evaluation in 8 dimensions. The data were compared with those of Chinese equivalent norm to analyze the factors affecting quality of life. Results The average age of 121 subjects was 68.7 years old, and 80.2% of them were 60 years old or above. In total, 65 leprosy patients were disabled. Survey analysis showed that the quality of physical health score (PCS) was 35.8 and mental health scores (MCS) was 37.1, both being lower than the China norm (all P<0.05). Transformed scores of 8 dimensions in the SF-36 v2 questionnaire of the leprosy patients were lower than those of China norm (all P<0.05). The physical health score (PCS) of subjects living in the leprosy villages and those scattering across the society were 31.6 and 38.1 respectively, and PCS of subjects scattering across the society was significantly better than those in the leprosy villages (t=-2.276, P=0.025). The physical functioning, role-physical, general health, social functioning and role-emotional dimensions transformed scores of the patients in healthy subjects were higher than those of disabled patients (all P<0.05). Conclusions The cured leprosy patients are very old in Linyi City. Disability, non-divorced and psychological pressure are the major factors that affect the patients' quality of life after cure. The cured leprosy patients deserve more attention.