| Objective:Leprosy has been a common disease in China for more than two thousand years.Since leprosy is hard to cure completely and may cause disability,the patients may be discriminated against which will push them away from communities and affect their health and living quality.In this research,we will investigate the nutrition condition,health and life quality of some cured leprosy patients in Linyi City in order to provide scientific suggestions for improving leprosy patients'life quality.Methods:A total of 121 cured leprosy patients in Linyi city were selected as subjects by random sampling methods.We measured the height,body weight and blood pressure of the patients,and collected basic information,disability status,nutrition knowledge,nutrition condition,living style,chronic condition and disease prevention knowledge through face-to-face surveys.We also did research on the nutrition condition of these subjects by the means of 24-hour meal review and food frequency table.Using the version 2 of the SF-36 health survey(SF-36v2),the subjects were surveyed face to face for analysis and evaluation in 8 dimensions including physiological function(PF),role physical(RP),social function(SF),bodily pain(BP),mental health(MH),role emotional(RE),vitality(VT),and general health(GH).Sum of the eight dimension scores can be categorized as physical health(PCS)and mental health(MCS)and evaluated.If the total scores are lower than 50 points,it means this category is below average and the lower the score,the more damage in this category to the subject.Results:Through home visits surveys,the analysis showed the average age of 121 subjects was 68.7 years old,and 53.7%(65 patients)had disability level 1 or above.The youngest patient is 28 years old while the oldest is 94.25.6%(31 patients)are single,50.4%(61patients)married with living spouse,15.7%or19 patients's spouse being dead,and 8.3%(10 patients)divorced or living by themselves.43 subjects live in leprosy village,83.7%of which have no spouse.78 subjects live in communities,30.7%of which have no spouse.Health and food nutrition condition analysis showed that the average BMI of 121cured patients is 24.4kg/m~2,among which 2.5%is emaciated,49.6%is normal,47.9%is overweight and obesity,and 60.3%is hypertensive patients.Diversified food with no less than 9 categories of food(9 points)will meet the nutrition needs of body,while the nutrition diversification points(DDS9)averaged at 6.60,with patients in leprosy village at 5.95 and patients at communities at 6.74 respectively.Patients in communities have slightly better condition than those living in leprosy villages(p<0.05).Survey analysis showed that the physical health score(PCS)of subjects living in the leprosy villages and those scattering across the society were 31.6 and 38.1 respectively,and PCS of subjects scattering across the society was statistically better than those in the leprosy villages(p<0.05).The average score of the patients in disabled subjects was lower than that of healthy patients in 8 dimensions.5 of the scores are:The physical functioning is 51.3 vs70.5,role-physical is 27.7 vs 51.3,general health is 39.5 vs 55.5,social functioning is47.5 vs 60.3 and role emotional is 41.0 vs 60.7.Multiple linear regression analysis,according to the standard partial regression coefficient showed that age and disability grading are the major unhealthy factors that affect the physical health(PCS)of the leprosy patients after cure,while marital status is the major unhealthy factor that affects physical health(PCS)category.Emerge of other diseases was the major risk factors for mental health(MCS)category.Conclusions:The cured leprosy patients are relatively old,even reaching the standard of longevity.Life quality of them has been greatly improved in diet and living condition than ever.But the survey found that dietary nutrition needs to be improved,and those with disability and solitude deserve more caring and attention. |
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