Five years of dermatological disease requiring specialist care in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Abstract

Epidemiological studies that document the burden of skin diseases in rural and remote regions of Australia are vital in ensuring proper health-care planning and management. The purpose of this study was to establish the burden of skin disease requiring specialist dermatology input for both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley. A retrospective audit of all outpatient encounters with the primary Country Health Service visiting dermatology specialist in the Kimberley region between January 2012 and January 2017. A total of 2281 encounters were recorded with 1459 unique patients seen. The most common disease categories seen in the general population were premalignant and malignant skin disease (40%), eczema and dermatitis (17%) and benign skin neoplasms (12%). Among Aboriginal patients, the most common conditions were eczema and dermatitis (19%), autoimmune connective tissue disease/rheumatological and autoinflammatory syndromes (17%), adnexal diseases (10%), pigmentary disorders (7%) and benign skin neoplasms (7%). These findings can be used to enhance, direct and plan dermatological services for both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations in the Kimberley region.