Abstract :
Introduction: Geriatric health care has assumed worldwide importance due to increase in the life
expectancy during the last few decades. Aging skin has a marked susceptibility to dermatologic disorders
due to the structural and physiologic changes that occur as a consequence of intrinsic and extrinsic aging.
Objectives: To study the spectrum of various dermatoses and the factors contributing to those dermatoses
amongst the geriatric patients in a Tertiary care hospital.
Materials and Methods: one hundred and eighty consecutive patients aged more than 60 years of age
attending the outpatient clinic or admitted as inpatients in the Department of Dermatology, STD and
Leprosy at Silchar Medical College and Hospital were subjects for the study. Detailed history taking
followed by general, systemic and cutaneous examination, and relevant investigations were carried out.
The findings were recorded in a proforma for analysis and interpretation of data.
Results: A total number of 180 patients were enrolled in our study, out of which 108 (60%) were males
and 72 (40%) females with male to female ratio wae 1.5:1. Xerosis was the most common physiological
condition and benign tumour followed by infection was the most common pathological conditions.
Conclusion: Geriatric dermatology is an emerging branch in dermatology, and an update on this, will
go a long way to effectively manage these patients. A thorough knowledge of the epidemiology as well as
gender distribution of dermatological diseases in geriatric population in the tertiary care hospital will help in
assessing health status and health care needs related to skin for better allocation of resources, distribution
of material and manpower, and help health care providers in better decision-making resulting in higher
client’s satisfaction.
Keyword :
Geriatric Dermatoses.