# Brazil accounts for nearly 90% of the leprosy cases in the Americas

## TL;DR

Brazil has most leprosy cases in the Americas, and the pandemic affected diagnosis and treatment, though co-infection with COVID-19 did not worsen the disease.

## Contribution

The study shows how the pandemic impacted leprosy control and treatment dropout rates in Brazil.

## Key findings

- The average weekly number of leprosy cases declined during the post-pandemic period.
- Male patients had a higher treatment dropout rate (OR, 6.32; p = 0.013).
- Of 57 patients tested for COVID-19, 21 were positive, but with no clinical aggravation.

## Abstract

Leprosy is endemic to Brazil. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have affected diagnosis and treatment.

Study in Mossoró-RN (2018-2023) analyzing epidemiological data, treatment abandonment, and COVID-19 co-infection.

The average weekly number of cases declined during the post-pandemic period. The dropout rate was higher during the acute phase. Male sex was associated with dropout (odds ratio [OR], 6.32; p = 0.013). Of the 57 patients tested for COVID-19, 21 tested positive, with no clinical aggravation.

The pandemic has affected leprosy control. Local strategies helped reduce the impact, and co-infection did not worsen the disease.