International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health

Skin Disorders in Elderly Population Attending Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi

body, including skin. The texture of the skin decreases with age i.e. structural and physiologic transformation that arise as a natural result of intrinsic aging in addition with the effects of a lifetime of on-going cumulative extrinsic damage and environment insult (e.g. overexposure to solar radiation) can produce a marked vulnerability to dermatologic disorders in the elderly. Objective: To determine the frequency of skin infections in elderly. Methods: This was cross sectional study conducted over a period of 1 year. All patients with skin infections aged between 60-65 and over 65 years, including all those who were diabetic and hypertensive were included. Chi Square test was performed to determine the statistical significance of skin diseases and demographic variables, p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The study protocol was approved by ethical review committee. Results: In retired patients, scabies 4.5%, contact dermatitis 2.7% fungal infections and psoriasis 2.3%, purpura 1.8%. In employed patients, scabies 7.3%, fungal infections 6.4%, pruritus 4.5%. In patients of 60-65 years Scabies was (15.5%), fungal infections 3.2%, eczema 6.4% and pruritus was 5.9%. Conclusion: Scabies was found to be the most common skin disease in all age groups, sexes as well as in employed, unemployed and retired patients. Patients belonging to the upper class, the most common skin diseases found were psoriasis and viral infections, in middle class it was fungal infections and in lower class, scabies was found to be the most common. The frequency of skin cancer and purpura increased with advancing age.

Author(s):

Kalar MU, Mustafa SH, Zaidi SSF, Zuhair R, Bano M, Fatima F, Fatima K, Ali T, Shahid N, Azam A, Shahid S, Hussain SMS, Kanwal F, Saleem A, Alzaabi M, Boland J, Bibi KH

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