Patterns of Skin Diseases in Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Objective Dermatological complaints are one of the most common reasons to see a physician. Identifying the incidence and prevalence of different skin conditions is essential to improve health outcomes. Only a few studies regarding the pattern of skin diseases have been conducted in Saudi Arabia, especially in the Qassim region. This study aims to identify, evaluate, and compare the pattern of skin conditions in the Qassim region regarding age and sex, and to compare the results with previous studies. Methods A retrospective record-based study included all Saudi patients who attended the dermatology clinics at Qassim University Medical City, for 12 months, from 2021/08/26 to 2022/07/1. Data were collected from the electronic medical records. Results The study included 2775 Saudi patients comprising 1654 (59.6%) females and 1121 (40.4%%) males, with a male-to-female ratio of 1: 1.475. Around 75% of patients were between 15 and 34 years of age. The top most common diagnoses were pilosebaceous disorders (49.2%), with acne vulgaris being the predominant condition, followed by hair disorders (15.6%), dermatitis (9.2%), pigmentary disorders (7.2%), infections (3.9%), and papulosquamous disorders (3%). The prevalence of dermatological conditions was significantly higher in females than males for pilosebaceous disorders (P=.01) and hair disorders (P=.02). Conclusion There is a changing trend in the prevalence of skin disorders in the Qassim province of Saudi Arabia. Pilosebaceous disorders are being diagnosed more frequently compared to previous years and females visit dermatology clinics more than males. Due to its hospital-based setting, this study only gives a rough estimate of the pattern of skin diseases, and extensive epidemiological studies are needed to estimate the prevalence accurately.