Quality of Life among Patients with Lymphatic Filariasis in Northern India: A Case-Control Study
Keywords:
Lymphatic filariasis, QoL, WHOQOL-BREF, Case-control study, Socio-demographic determinants, Uttar Pradesh.Abstract
Background: Lymphatic filariasis is a neglected tropical disease and the second most common vector-borne disease after malaria, with 790 million people at risk globally, and nearly 20 million people suffer from chronic morbidity. Uttar Pradesh is the largest state of India, in which 112 million people (95 million in rural areas & 17 million in urban areas) are living in LF-endemic areas, where lymphatic filariasis significantly impairs quality of life. Objectives: To assess the socioeconomic profile and quality of life among LF patients in Kanpur Nagar. Materials & Methods: A community-based case-control study was conducted, and 628 participants (314 cases and 314 controls) were selected from a line listing provided by the district malaria officer. Controls were frequency-matched for age and sex and were selected from the neighbourhood of the case from August 2024 to July 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and the WHOQOL-BREF scale. Results: LF cases were significantly associated with lower educational status, lower socioeconomic status, nuclear family structure, and unemployment compared to controls. QoL scores were significantly lower among cases in the physical, psychological, and social relationship domains compared to controls, while environmental domain scores showed no significant difference. Among cases, males demonstrated significantly higher physical and psychological quality of life scores than females. Conclusion: Lymphatic filariasis significantly impairs quality of life, particularly in physical, psychological, and social domains, while also being strongly associated with socio-demographic vulnerabilities.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sumit Kumar (Corresponding Author); S. K Barman, Tanu Midha, Seema Nigam, Punit Varma, Samarjeet Kaur (Author)
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