Clinical-epidemiological characteristics and temporal trend of new cases of grade 2 disability leprosy in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, 2011- 2020.

Main results: Out of 2,147 grade 2 disability leprosy cases, the majority were male, of mixed race/skin color, multibacillary and borderline. The São Luís regional health unit showed a falling trend.

Implications for services: The results can guide strategies for the leprosy control program in the state, aiming at new approaches towards early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disabilities.

Perspectives: Further studies are needed, such as spatial distribution of cases and detection rates of leprosy in children under 15 years of age, in order to gain a better understanding of the epidemiological profile of leprosy in Maranhão.

Objective: to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of new cases of grade 2 disability leprosy and to analyze its trend in the state of Maranhão, from 2011 to 2020.

Methods: this was a descriptive cross-sectional and ecological time-series study, using data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System. A descriptive analysis of the event was carried out according to the sociodemographic and clinical-laboratory characteristics of the cases. The temporal trend of event incidence was analyzed using Prais-Winsten regression.

Results: of the 2,147 cases, 71.5% were male, 48.9% had up to 8 years of schooling, 66.5% were of mixed race/color, 95.5% had the multibacillary form, 58.8% were borderline, 32.3% had negative bacilloscopy at diagnosis. There was a stationary trend in the state and a falling trend in the São Luís Health Region (annual percentage change = -64.4%; 95% confidence interval: -73.7;-51.9).

Conclusion: incidence trend was stable in the state of Maranhão and falling in São Luís.