Prevalence of Hand Deformities Among Leprosy-Affected Adults in Delhi: A Cross-Sectional Study

This synopsis outlines a cross-sectional study titled "Prevalence of hand deformities among Leprosy-Affected adults in Delhi: A Cross-Sectional Study",

The study aims to investigate the prevalence and distribution of hand deformities among leprosy patients in Delhi, a region with 1,188 total reported cases 2023 according to  MoHFW, 2023. The research will also explore the association between these deformities, functional limitations, sensory loss and the duration of the disease.

The methodology includes:

• Study Design: A cross-sectional study with a sample size of 300 participants.
• Population: Individuals aged 18 and older who have been clinically or microbiologically diagnosed with leprosy. Those with deformities from other causes or who have had hand reconstructive surgery will be excluded.
• Outcome Measures: The Sensory testing using standardized tools and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) for functional limitations. The WHO Disability Grading scale will be used to classify deformity severity.
• Analysis: Data will be analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS to determine the prevalence of deformities and the relationships between variables using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and univariate logistic regression.

The study’s findings are expected to provide updated data to inform rehabilitation strategies and prevention programs for leprosy-related disabilities