Spectrum and clinical burden of Unrecognized Dermatologic Diseases in hospitalized adults: A single-centre cross-sectional study

Abstract

Dermatological problems are commonly encountered in society. Dermatological examination is based on inspection and palpation. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive dermatological examination of adult patients hospitalized at our university hospital and to identify the dermatological complaints and diseases encountered. This single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study included 112 adult patients who were hospitalized at our hospital and met the eligibility criteria. Systematic dermatological examinations of the entire body and mucosa were performed in a suitable examination environment. Diagnoses and/or definitions corresponding to the findings obtained from the complaints and dermatological examination of all participants were categorized. All 112 patients received at least 1 and at most 7 diagnoses, with a median of 5 diagnoses. The most common dermatological problems in our patients, which did not require treatment unless symptomatic, were seborrheic dermatitis, xerosis cutis, callus/hyperkeratosis, cheilitis, rosacea, and telogen effluvium, with frequencies of 6-61%, respectively. The problems that did not require treatment unless requested by the patient were solar lentigo, androgenetic alopecia, seborrheic keratosis, cherry angioma, nevi, and skin tags, with frequencies of 10-31%, respectively. Our study revealed that many dermatological issues, ranging from SCC to scabies, from candida stomatitis to tinea pedis and intertrigo, were not noticed during hospitalization in the ward. Inspection is an integral part of routine physical examinations, and we believe that there is a lack of practice in this area, and collaboration with dermatology should be improved.