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A survey of dermatological diseases among older male adults of a Veterans Home in Southern Taiwan

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Abstract

Backgrounds

The dermatologic diseases of the dependent elderly require special attention.

Methods

This screening and treatment service of dermatological diseases was conducted in a Veterans Home in Southern Taiwan.

Results

A total of 337 male residents were screened with mean age 83 years (range 46–99). 271 (80.4 %) residents were in dependent status. Their skin diseases were recorded and the distribution pattern was compared with those in the other studies. Comparing by Chi-square test, scabies, bacterial infection, chronic ulcers, pruritus, and brown spots on the legs were present significantly in certain major systemic diseases, respectively. Higher prevalence of certain skin diseases was related to the severity of disability or major systemic diseases of the residents. Actinic keratosis and non-melanoma skin cancers were early detected and managed.

Conclusions

The distribution patterns of skin diseases in a Veterans Home were unique. It provides the evidences on appropriate management and key nursing points for dependent elderly.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded in part by a grant from Veterans Affairs Council of Executive Yuan of Taiwan (VAC100-C11). The authors express their gratitude to all physicians and members of the Geriatric Medicine Center of Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, and all of the nursing colleagues, especially Chu-Chao Liu, at Ping-Tung Veterans Home for their assistance with the data collection and skin examination.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Da-zhong 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 81362, Taiwan

    Hui-Wen Tseng & Chieh-Shan Wu

  2. Department of Nursing, Meiho University, No. 23, Ping-Guang Rd, Neipu, Ping-tung, Taiwan

    Hui-Wen Tseng

  3. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine Center, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Hing-Chung Lam

  4. Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Luo-Ping Ger & Huei-Han Liou

  5. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Luo-Ping Ger

  6. Geriatric Medicine Center, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Da-zhong 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 81362, Taiwan

    Chih-Kuang Liang

  7. Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, No. 386, Dazhong 1st Road, Kaohsiung, 81362, Taiwan

    Chih-Kuang Liang

  8. Aging and Health Research Center, National Yang Ming University, No. 155, Sec 2, Linong Street, Taipei, 11217, Taiwan

    Chih-Kuang Liang

  9. Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shihchuan 1st Rd, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan

    Chieh-Shan Wu

Authors
  1. Hui-Wen Tseng
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  2. Hing-Chung Lam
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  3. Luo-Ping Ger
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  4. Chih-Kuang Liang
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  5. Huei-Han Liou
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  6. Chieh-Shan Wu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chieh-Shan Wu.

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Tseng, HW., Lam, HC., Ger, LP. et al. A survey of dermatological diseases among older male adults of a Veterans Home in Southern Taiwan. Aging Clin Exp Res 27, 227–233 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0260-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-014-0260-9

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