Scope of Skin Diseases in the Geriatric Population of an Urban Dermatology Clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

<i>Background:</i> Aging is the progressive decline in optimal functioning and reserve capacity of all body systems, including the integumentary system. This decline leads to an increase in the predisposition to skin diseases in the geriatric population. The ageing process is both intrinsic and extrinsic with specific characteristics of presentation. Portharcourt. <i>Results:</i> The results showed a male to female ratio of 1: 1.5, with an age range of 65 to 94 years and a mean of 71.11±6.49. There was a 3.27% prevalence of skin diseases among geriatric patients. Most patients 50 (80%) presented between ages 65-74 years. The five most common disorders were papulosquamous 10 (16.4%), fungal infections 9 (14.8%), benign tumours 8 (13.1%), urticaria in 7 (11.5%) and eczemas 7 (11.5%). There was no statistical significance between age and dermatologic diagnosis and also no significance between dermatoses and comorbidities. <i>Conclusion:</i> The findings showed that papulosquamous disorders and fungal infections were common, and females were more affected. Women had more papulosquamous disorders and eczema, while men had more fungal infections. There was no significance between age and dermatologic diagnosis, and dermatoses and comorbidities.