Revisiting the Eye-Hand-Foot Score as a Simple Tool in Assessing the Disability Progression in Leprosy Patients in India

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dc.contributor.authorPilaka, KRen_US
dc.contributor.authorPallapati, MSen_US
dc.contributor.authorSimic, Men_US
dc.contributor.authorLockwood, DNJen_US
dc.contributor.authorSrikantam, A.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-13T08:54:28Z
dc.date.available2025-08-13T08:54:28Z
dc.date.issued2025-06
dc.description.abstractThe Global leprosy strategy 2021-2030 emphasizes managing leprosy and its complications and preventing new disabilities as one of its strategic pillars. This study assessed the impairment status of newly diagnosed leprosy patients, at the beginning and end of the multi-drug therapy by using the Eye, Hand, and Foot (EHF) score. The study also analyzed the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with the worsening of the EHF score. This retrospective study was based on case-records of patients who were diagnosed with leprosy, registered for treatment and completed treatment in 6-9 months for paucibacillary cases and 12-18 months for multibacillary (MB) cases in a secondary level leprosy care center India, from April 2010 to March 2020 were analyzed. Out of 531 records of newly diagnosed leprosy cases, 232 met the inclusion criteria. At diagnosis, the mean EHF score was 1.49, and at the end of treatment, it was 2.13, which was 0.63 higher than at diagnosis (p < 0.001). While the worsening of EHF scores was observed in 38.3% of 232 patients, only 5.6% deteriorated by WHO grading. Worsening of the EHF Score after treatment occurred with increasing age (OR: 1.03, 95% CI, 1.01-1.06), being illiterate (OR: 2.86, 95% CI, 1.50-5.46) and having MB type (OR: 4.43, 95% CI, 1.30-15.1) and lepromatous type (OR: 1.80, 95% CI, 0.90-3.60) leprosy. To conclude, our findings underscore the need for utilizing the EHF score in monitoring leprosy-related disabilities in addition to WHO disability grading system. Continued surveillance during MDT and regular nerve function assessments and treatment of neuritis when detected, are critical to mitigate disability progression among high-risk patients like being illiterate, multibacillary and lepromatous type of leprosy, ultimately reducing the risk of developing grade 2 disability.en_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsSenior Research Fellow, LEPRA-Blue Peter Public Health and Research Center, Hyderabad, Near TEC Building, Cherlapally to Rampally Road, Cherlapally, Hyderabad ￜ 501 301, Telangana, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsMichael Sukumar Pallapati, Medical Officer and Incharge, LEPRA-Blue Peter Public Health and Research Center, Hyderabad, Near TEC Building, Cherlapally to Rampally Road, Cherlapally, Hyderabad ￜ 501 301, Telangana, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsSenior Research and Technical Advisor, Lepra, Colchester, United Kingdomen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsEmeritus Professor of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Tropical medicine, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdomen_US
dc.identifier.affiliationsMicrobiologist, LEPRA-Blue Peter Public Health and Research Center, Hyderabad, India and Professor, Department of Microbiology, Malla Reddy Medical College for Women, Hyderabad, Indiaen_US
dc.identifier.citationPilaka KR, Pallapati MS, Simic M, Lockwood DNJ, Srikantam A.. Revisiting the Eye-Hand-Foot Score as a Simple Tool in Assessing the Disability Progression in Leprosy Patients in India. Indian Journal of Leprosy . 2025 Jun; 97(2): 163-173en_US
dc.identifier.issn0254-9395
dc.identifier.placeIndiaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/250260
dc.languageenen_US
dc.publisherHind Kusht Nivaran Sangh (Indian Leprosy Association)en_US
dc.relation.issuenumber2en_US
dc.relation.volume97en_US
dc.source.urihttps://www.ijl.org.in/article-detail/97/543en_US
dc.subjectHansen抯 Diseaseen_US
dc.subjectLeprosyen_US
dc.subjectDisabilitiesen_US
dc.subjectNerve Function Assessmenten_US
dc.subjectLeprosy Reactionsen_US
dc.subjectEye Hand and Foot (EHF) scoreen_US
dc.titleRevisiting the Eye-Hand-Foot Score as a Simple Tool in Assessing the Disability Progression in Leprosy Patients in Indiaen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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