Jimena Pérez-Rubio, Division de Dermatología, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Ciudad de México, México
Judith G. Domínguez-Cherit, Division de Dermatología, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Ciudad de México, México
Ana L. Ramírez-Téran, Division de Dermatología, Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, Ciudad de México, México
Background: Population aging is accelerating in Mexico, increasing demand for healthcare services, including dermatologic care. However, epidemiological data describing dermatoses in older adults in tertiary-care secondary remain limited. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and distribution of dermatoses in adults aged ≥ 60 years attending a secondary referral hospital in Mexico and to analyze variations according to sex and age. Material and methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted, including patients aged ≥ 60 years who were evaluated at the dermatology department of the General Hospital “Dr. Manuel Gea González” between August 2021 and August 2024. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Dermatoses were classified into diagnostic categories. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: A total of 4081 patients were included (64.1% women; mean age 70 ± 8.3 years). Overall, 6779 dermatoses were identified, with a mean of 1.66 diagnoses/patients. Tumors were the most frequent diagnostic category (31.4%), followed by papulosquamous disorders (17.7%) and infectious diseases (14.2%). Basal cell carcinoma was the most common individual diagnosis (6.7%), followed by seborrheic keratosis (6.1%) and onychomycosis (5.2%). Age-stratified analysis showed a shift from predominantly benign conditions in patients aged 60–69 years to increased prevalence of pre-malignant and malignant lesions in those aged ≥ 80 years. Pressure ulcers were more frequent among nonagenarians. Conclusion: Dermatologic patterns in older adults demonstrate an age-related transition toward neoplastic and frailty-associated conditions. These findings highlight the growing demand for oncologic, dermatologic, and chronic wound care services in secondary-care settings within an aging population.
Keywords: Aged. Skin diseases/epidemiology. Neoplasms. Basal cell. Skin neoplasms/epidemiology. Hospitals.