Leprosy patients in Bengaluru, India: associated comorbidities, costs for management and linkages to welfare schemes

Introduction: India accounts for the 60% of the global burden of leprosy. We conducted a study to identify the various comorbid conditions, costs incurred for its management and the status of linkages to public welfare schemes amongst leprosy patients admitted at a leprosy hospital in Bengaluru, India. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted between March and July, 2018, at a leprosy hospital in Bengaluru, India. All the admitted patients were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The quantitative data was double entered using EpiData data entry software and was analysed using EpiData analysis software for numbers, proportions and range. Results: A total of 80 admitted in-patients were interviewed of which the male to female ratio was 3:1. A majority (90%) of them had comorbid conditions, including neuropathic ulcers, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, mental illnesses and cellulitis. Most of them had incurred some expenses for morbidity management. Only half of the patients were found to be linked to public social welfare schemes. Conclusion: Leprosy is associated with comorbid conditions and as a policy all diagnosed and registered patients under the programme should be screened for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, HIV and mental illnesses at regular intervals. Efforts are to be made to integrate the primary health care services and bring down the patients costs on comorbidities.