[Experience of using teledermatology for elderly patients: a study in the Republic of Bashkortostan.]

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of teledermatology in primary care for the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases in patients of all age groups, with a focus on the population over 60 years. The study, conducted in Ufa from September 2023 to September 2024, included 1 590 patients over 60 years old with 3 214 registered skin lesions. The results demonstrate that teledermatology consultations allowed GPs to independently manage 67% of cases (2 153/3 214), minimizing the need for referral to a dermatologist. Indications for an in-person consultation with a dermatologist and biopsy were 42,80% (681/1 590) and 8,23% (131/1 590) of cases, respectively. The dominant diagnoses were seborrheic keratosis, solar lentigo, onychomycosis, melanocytic nevi, benign skin lesions, actinic keratosis, epidermoid cysts, leukoderma and viral warts. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between patient age and the incidence of skin malignancies requiring biopsy. Emollients were the most frequently prescribed group of drugs (30,90%, 275/890). The findings suggest the potential of teledermatology to optimize patient routing, reduce the workload of dermatologists and increase the availability of specialized dermatological care, especially for elderly patients.