Skin disorders among elderly patients

Skin disorders among elderly patients: clinicodemographic characteristics of 808 Egyptian patients: Mohammed Abu El-Hamd, Wafaa M Abd-Elmaged, Nesreen A Mohammed



Egyptian Journal of Dermatology and Venerology 2020 40(1):38-44



Background Geriatric health care has increased rapidly worldwide. The frequency of skin diseases is rising among elderly patients.

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate demographic features and pattern and frequency of skin disorders among elderly patients attending dermatology clinics.

Patients and methods This was a cross-sectional clinical hospital-based study that included all patients aged more than or equal to 60 years old who attended the Outpatient Clinics of Dermatology, Sohag University, Upper Egypt. All the patients were subjected to a detailed medical history and complete general and dermatological examination.

Results This study included 808 elderly patients, with a mean age of 70.21±7.51 years. A total of 434 (53.7%) patients were females and 374 (46.3%) were males. Among the patients, 264 (32.7%) were living in urban areas. Overall, 188 (23.3%) patients were smokers. Among patients, 268 (33.1%) had low education levels and 450 (53.2%) patients had a previous history of manual work. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus, seen in 270 (33.41%) patients, and hypertension, seen in 64 (7.92%) patients. Of 808 elderly patients, 188 (23.7%) had infectious skin diseases, 162 (20%) had allergic and eczematous diseases, 98 (12.1%) had senile pruritus, 78 (9.7) had xerosis, 48 (5.9%) had papulosquamous diseases, 32 (4%) had cutaneous tumors, 30 (3.7%) had vesiculobullous diseases, 28 (3.5%) had pigmentary skin diseases, and 18 (2.3%) had vascular disorders.

Conclusion Skin diseases are common among elderly patients. Infectious skin diseases, allergic and eczematous diseases, senile pruritus, and xerosis are the most common skin diseases among elderly patients.