Clinical Study on Dermatologic Disease of the Elderly.
- Author:
Byung Cheol PARK
1
;
Yoon Seok CHOE
;
Do Won KIM
;
Weon Ju LEE
;
Seok Jong LEE
;
Gun Yoen NA
Author Information
1. Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. kimdw@knu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Dermatologic disease;
Elderly;
Geriatric
- MeSH:
Aged*;
Aged, 80 and over;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Daegu;
Delivery of Health Care;
Dermatitis, Seborrheic;
Dermatology;
Epidemiology;
Exanthema;
Female;
Gyeongsangbuk-do;
Herpes Zoster;
Hospital Records;
Humans;
Korea;
Male;
Neuralgia, Postherpetic;
Outpatients;
Prevalence;
Pruritus;
Retrospective Studies;
Skin
- From:Korean Journal of Dermatology
2006;44(7):818-823
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: With the advance of socioeconomy and medical sciences, geriatric health care has become a world wide concern and disease of the skin is no exception. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, past history and the prevalence of various skin disorders of the elderly. METHODS: In this trial, a total of 1082 new patients older than 65 years, who visited the Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, Korea in the last 3 years (2002~2004), were selected. The data was studied on the basis of a retrospective survey of hospital records. RESULTS: Of total patients who were seen at the dermatologic outpatient department, 10.1% were 65 years and older. The male to female ratio was 1 to 1.01. The patients between 65 and 74 years old compromised the majority (72.8%), and the patients older than 85 years old were 4.1%. They visited hospital most frequently in summer. Of the common complaints recorded, pruritic rash was the most frequent. The commonly diagnosed disorders were herpes zoster followed by senile pruritus, tinea/onychomycosis, and seborrheic dermatitis in decreasing order. The most common dermatologic disease was hespes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia for all three age groups : 65~74 years old, 75~84 years old, and over 85 years old. A total of 901 patients, which constituted 83.3% of the total patients, had at least more than one underlying disease, of which cardiovascular disease was the most common. CONCLUSION: This study is expected to be of help to understand the characteristics and the distribution of dermatologic diseases in the elderly.
