Quality of Life in Leprosy Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Uttar Pradesh: A Cross-Sectional Assessment Using the WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire

Abstract

Background: Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) remains a significant public health concern in India despite the availability of effective multidrug therapy (MDT). Beyond microbiological cure, the disease inflicts sustained physical, psychological, social, and environmental burdens, substantially degrading health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Systematic assessment of HRQoL using validated instruments is sparse in the Indian context, particularly among patients attending tertiary care facilities. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, L.L.R.M. Medical College and Hospital, Meerut, from June 2024 to November 2025. Using consecutive sampling, 106 confirmed leprosy patients (≥18 years) were enrolled. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was administered via face-to-face interview. Domain scores were transformed to a 0–100 scale. Associations between domain scores and sociodemographic and disease-related variables were examined using one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed using JAMOVI 2.6.24. Results: The mean age of participants was 39.79 ± 15.6 years; males predominated (61.3%). Lepromatous leprosy was the most frequent clinical form (27.4%), and 50.9% of patients had Grade 2 disability. Mean WHOQOL-BREF domain scores were: social relationships 53.30 ± 14.80, physical health 49.76 ± 13.0, psychological health 47.79 ± 12.59, and environment 47.70 ± 10.47. Disability grade was significantly associated with physical health (p < 0.001) and psychological health (p = 0.004). Disease duration inversely predicted physical, psychological, and environmental domain scores (p ≤0.002). Type of leprosy significantly influenced physical health scores (p = 0.007). Sociodemographic variables showed no statistically significant association with any domain. Conclusion: Physical disability particularly Grade 2 disability and hand deformity constitutes the most significant determinant of impaired QoL in leprosy patients. Early case detection, timely management of lepra reactions, disability prevention, and integrated psychosocial rehabilitation are imperative to improve QoL in this population.

Keywords: leprosy; Hansen’s disease; quality of life; WHOQOL-BREF; disability; multibacillary; psychosocial burden; India