Skin Disorders Among Geriatric Population at a Tertiary Care Center in Uttarakhand

Ageing results in decline of normal functioning in all organ systems including skin. This predisposes the elderly persons to develop various skin ailments. A thorough knowledge of different diseases prevalent in this population in different geographic regions help the health care providers in better health care policy making.

This study was planned to know the common dermatological diseases prevalent in Uttarakhand region of India.

Hospital out patients records maintained in Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy were analysed and information regarding age, sex and diagnosis of patients were recorded. Descriptive statistics for prevalence of skin diseases in patients presenting to hospital were calculated.

Out of the total 29,422 patients seen in dermatology department from August 2012 to 2014, 4.7% (1,380) were aged 60 years and above. Male to female ratio was 2:1. Erythemato-squamous disorders taken collectively constituted the major skin disorder seen in 38.9% patients. This was followed by infections and infestations (29.9%), senile pruritus (9.0%) and age related skin changes (3.7%). Benign neoplasms were seen in 1.1% patients followed by cutaneous malignancies in 0.8% and precancerous lesions in 0.4%. Fungal infections were the most common infections seen in 18% patients.

This study strengthens the opinion that infections, senile pruritus and eczema-dermatitis are the major dermatological disorders in elderly population.