PREVALENCE OF SKIN DISEASES AMONG ELDERLY RESIDING IN NURSING HOMES IN MUGLA

Introduction: Birth rates are not only declining worldwide but people are also living longer. Despite the growing elderly population, there are limited numbers of studies on this population residing in nursing homes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of skin diseases in elderly residing in nursing homes in Southwest Anatolia, and to contribute to the development of preventive healthcare for these diseases. Materials and Method: We conducted a cross-sectional trial in two nursing homes located in the central province of Mugla. A questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic characteristics, diagnosis of any dermatological diseases, and clinical history, was administered to the elderly patients. Results: Of the 105 elderly patients, 64 (61.0%) were males and 41 (39.0%) were females. Lentigo was identified as the most common skin disease (90.5%). Xerosis (78.1%), senile angioma (61.0%), and tinea unguium (59.0%) was followed lentigo respectively. Five (4.8%) elderly patients had decubitus ulcers. A significant difference was detected in the occurrence of tinea pedis, and decubitus ulcers (p=0.032 and p=0.000, respectively) in these patients compared with ambulatory patients. Conclusion: This study is thought to be among the pioneer researches evaluating the prevalence of skin diseases in the elderly patients residing in nursing homes in Southwest Anatolia. The information obtained should contribute to epidemiological data to determine the prevalence of skin diseases observed in the elderly population in nursing homes in this area. This knowledge may lead to the improvement of measures for preventing skin diseases in these patients.