The prevalence of skin diseases among the elderly patients applying a tertiary dermatology outpatient clinic: A retrospective analysis of 2400 patients

OpenAlex İngilizce

Introduction: As the population ages, particular health issues affect this susceptible age group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, frequency, age, gender, and season-of-year distribution of dermatological disorders among geriatric patients. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective, descriptive study. Skin diseases were categorized into 12 different groups and analyzed according to the age groups, gender, and season of the application. Results: The study included 2431 patients (1203 were female and 1228 were male). The mean age of the patients was 74.02±7.07(65-100) years. For 23.1% of these patients, the problems were acute, and for 76.9%, they were chronic. The ratio of patients with one, two, and more than three complaints was 81.0%, 13.9%, and 5.1%, respectively. The most frequent diagnoses were pruritus (n=424, 17.4%); eczematous dermatitis (n=395, 16.2%); fungal infections (n=372, 15.3%); premalign and malign skin disorders (n=247, 10.2%); bacterial infections (n=147, 6%); viral infections (n=118, 4.9%); papulosquamous diseases (n=95, 3.9%); urticaria and adverse drug reactions (n=96, 3.9%); benign skin tumors (n=79, 3.2%); acneiform disorders (n=40, 1.6%); and vesiculobullous disorders (n=22, 0.9%). Conclusion: The majority of skin diseases among the elderly are not life-threatening, and they are preventable. Knowing the prevalence and distribution of skin diseases seen in the elderly can help prevent these disorders and develop policies for better management of elderly-related health issues. Keywords: Aged; Skin Diseases; Preventive Medicine; Skin Aging.