Dermatological Diseases Among Octogenarians In A Tertiary Center
- Author:
Low DW
;
Adawiyah J
;
Norazirah MN
;
Leelavathi M
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
dermatological diseases;
Eczema;
Skin disease
- From:Malaysian Journal of Dermatology
2016;37(-):17-22
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Our country is fast becoming a developed country with improved life expectancy. The
healthcare system should be prepared to manage medical conditions which are prevalent in the older
age group. Skin diseases are commonly observed in the geriatric population. We seek to characterize
the dermatological conditions affecting patients at the extremes of age.
Methods: To determine the types of dermatological diseases affecting patients over 80 years of age,
and to determine their clinical characteristics and comorbidities.
Objectives: Subjects with photodamage were older, and had lower education and employment rates
compared to subjects without photodamage. There was no significant difference in knowledge on the
harmful effects of sun exposure and on sun protection or in sun avoidance behaviour (other than use
of protective sunglasses) between the two groups, though more patients with photodamage felt that
they take adequate sun protection measures. Of note, only a low percentage of subjects in both groups
(24.5% of subjects with photodamage and 23.1% of subjects without photodamage) practise regular
use of sunscreen.
Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at the Dermatology Unit, University Kebangsaan
Malaysia Medical Center (UKMMC). All patients aged ≥80 years who attended the Dermatology
Clinic UKMMC in 2015 were identified from the clinic database. Their clinical notes were reviewed.
Demography, clinical characteristics and dermatological diagnosis were recorded and analyzed using
SPSS Version 22.
Results: One hundred and three octogenarians were included in the study. Fifty one (49.5%) were
females, and 52 (50.5%) were males. The age ranged from 80 to 89 years. The majority were Chinese,
76 (73.8%), 16 (15.5%) were Malays, 6 (5.8%) were Indians and remaining 5 (4.9%) were of other
ethnicities. The most commonly seen diseases were endogenous eczema 46 (44.7%), cutaneous
malignancy 10 (9.7%), psoriasis 8 (7.8%), bullous pemphigoid 7 (6.8%) and fungal infection 6 (5.8%).
More than half of patients [25 (24.3%)] with endogenous eczema had unclassified eczema. Other
conditions were seborrheic keratosis 5 (4.9%), adverse drug eruption 5 (4.9%), viral infections 4
(3.9%) and lichen amyloidosis 3 (2.9%). Comorbidities of the patients were 48 (46.6%) hypertension,
29 (28.2%) diabetes, 25 (24.3%) atherosclerosis related disease, 22 (21.4%) dyslipidemia, 9 (8.7%)
chronic lung disease and 9 (8.7%) non-skin malignancy.Conclusions: Eczema is very common in
elderly patients. In the majority of patients the
clinical features of eczema are often not typical
of endogenous eczema subtypes. We propose
the term senectus eczema as a diagnosis,
however its clinical characteristics has yet to
be clearly delineated. Skin cancers, psoriasis,
bullous pemphigoid, fungal infections, drug
eruption and viral infection are other conditions
which should not be missed in assessing these
patients.
