Summary In this paper, the incidence rates and cumulative incidence of nerve function impairment (NFl) and leprosy reactions over 24 months follow-up of the prospective cohort of 2664 new leprosy cases are presented. Graphs showing the cumulative incidence of NFl relative to time since registration are presented. Hazard ratios (HRs) for the development of NFl for four variables are given. The majority of patients who developed NFl after registration did so in the first year (67% of multibacillary (MB) patients, and 91 % of paucibacillary (PB) patients who developed NFl). Thirty-three percent of all MB patients who developed NFl after registration did so in the second year of fo llow-up. No PB patients developed NFl for the first time in the last 6 months of follow-up. However, seven NFl events occurred amongst PB patients in that period, amongst those who had already had one NFl event. The incidence rate (IR) of NFl amongst MB patients was 24/ 100 person-years at risk (PY AR), and amongst PB patients was 1.3/100 PY AR. The HR for the development of NFl amongst MB patients compared with PB patients was 16 using univariate analysis. Amongst patients who had long-standing NFl present at registration, the IR was 27/100 PY AR compared with l.7/100 PY AR amongst those who did not have long-standing NFl. The HR for developing acute NFl amongst those with long standing NFl present at registration compared with those without was 14 using univariate analysis. When multivariate regression analysis is applied, the apparently significant univariate HRs for sex and age disappeared. The resultant multivariate HR for leprosy group is 8.8, and 6. 1 for the presence/absence of long-standing NFl at registration. In all, 142/ 166 (86%) of all new NFl events were silent, underlining the need for regular nerve fu nction testing. IRs are presented for the four 6-month periods of the 24-month follow-up. They show a clear stepwise reduction over the total period. The IRs amongst MB patients and those with long-standing NFl present at

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