[Prevalence of dermatoses in residents of institutions for the elderly]

To determine the prevalence of dermatoses in 75 elderly residents in an institution of long permanence in the city of Santos, and to compare findings with those in literature.

Seventy five healthy elderly persons were submitted to a dermatological exam. The prevalence, the average number per elderly person and the frequency of dermatoses were calculated from the data collected. An analysis was then made of the distribution in the subgroups of, gender, race, age bracket as well as of dermatosis in the main sub-groups.

The total number of diagnoses of dermatosis was 280 with an average number of 3.73/per elderly person and 32 different types of dermatosis: were found. The prevalence of the dermatosis most often found was respectively: melanosis (53.3%), seborrheic keratosis (46.6%), onychomycosis (37.3%), nevus (33.3%), senile purpura (29.3%), xerosis (14.6%), scabies (12.0%) and malignant neoplasm (1.3%). The distribution of dermatosis was 70% (CI95%: 59% to 81%) higher in the female population than in the male.

Notwithstanding the small number of cases, these data are compatible with the few reports available in literature. This study of prevalence defined the distribution of dermatosis in a fraction of the elderly population. However the aggregate data of subsequent casuistries may provide the more precise information whose relevance is undeniable in the orientation of individual and collective future health measures.