Prevalence and Pattern of Diseases of The Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue in A Primary Care Area in Thailand

Abstract

Objective: Information on the population-based prevalence study of skin diseases is still lacking.  The study explores the prevalence and pattern of diagnosed skin diseases of the population in a primary care area of a university hospital in Thailand.Materials and Methods: Skin disease patients were identified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision codes (L00-L99).  Retrospective data were obtained from the hospital electronic medical record between 2015-2019.  The number of clinic visits and the number of skin disease diagnoses were counted.  The five-year period prevalence was calculated by dividing the number of cases by the population in the primary care area.Results: During the five-year period, in a population of 29,969, we found 3,770 patients (12.6% of 29,969 population) who made 7,433 outpatient visits with the diagnoses of skin diseases.  Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissues were the most common (37.3%), followed by dermatitis (29.7%), urticaria and erythema (13.9%), other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (8.6%), and papulosquamous disorders (1.7%).  The five-year period prevalence of skin diseases per 100,000 persons was as following: cellulitis (2,296), urticaria (1,682), psoriasis (177), atopic dermatitis (420), seborrheic dermatitis (227), alopecia areata (50), vitiligo (23), and pemphigus (10).Conclusion: Infection and dermatitis were the two most common skin diseases in the primary care area population.  Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and decubitus ulcer were less commonly found.  Our prevalence data should be the “at least” prevalence of skin diseases due to possible underreporting.