Incidence of skin diseases diagnosed in a public institution: comparison between 2003 and 2014^*

Abstract

Epidemiology of diseases is influenced by population socio-demographic circumstances. Therefore it can be modified along the time. There are no studies exploring epidemiological transition in dermatology. This study investigated the incidence of dermatoses in new patients from a Brazilian country town public service in 2003 and 2014. There was a significant increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, leprosy, melasma, pruritus and hidradenitis suppurativa. However, a prominent reduction in scheduling of appointments for surgeries of benign lesions, drug reactions, urticaria and superficial mycoses was detected. The identification of epidemiological trends guides the dimensioning of health system and professional qualification policies.

Keywords:
Demographic transition; Dermatology; Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Health transition; Incidence

The nosologic profile and the indicators of morbimortality have changed over time in several countries. This stems from the transformation of society, such as the increase in life expectancy, as well as the reduction of mortality from infectious and contagious diseases, due to the improvement of basic sanitation conditions and access to the health system.¹

Changes in the incidence profile of diseases in health services require adaptation to the new demand: available technology must accompany new health problems, and public health measures should be designed according to population needs. The understanding of this epidemiological transition refers to the discussion of medical curriculum and strategies of matrix support in the Brazilian public health system²

To date, no study has evaluated the change in the incidence of dermatological diseases, nor has any considered it from the perspective of the epidemiological transition theory.

This study aimed to describe the new cases attended at Dermatology Outpatient Clinics (public service) in order to characterize patient demand and to compare differences in the incidence of skin diseases over a period of 11 years.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted. After approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee (CAAE: 41394815.4.00005411), clinical and demographic data from patients' records (> 14 years-old), whose first consultation was performed at the FMB-Unesp de Botucatu Dermatology Service (SP) in the years 2003 and 2014, were considered. The diagnoses were grouped by similarity to reduce variability of the categories.

The proportion between sexes in each year was compared by the chi-square test. Ages were compared by the Student's t-test. The incidences of diseases were tested by the analysis of residuals in contingency tables (standardized data). The data were analyzed in the IBM-SPSS 22.0 software. A value of p <0.05 was considered significant. The effect size was estimated by the relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

A total of 1,170 patients were evaluated in 2003 and 1,078 in 2014. The main demographic data are listed in Table 1. There was a predominance of females in both years, with no difference between the proportions in the periods. Patients' ages were significantly higher in 2014. Up to 26% of patients in 2003 and 13% in 2014 had more than one dermatological diagnosis at the first visit.

Table 1
Main demographic data of patients attended (new cases) at the FMB-Unesp de Botucatu (SP) Dermatology Service in 2003 and 2014

	2003	2014	p
N	1,170	1,078	-
Sex - N (%)
Female	702 (60.0)	630 (58.4)	0.45
Male	468 (40.0)	448 (41.6)
Age - Average (sd)	43.2 (19.6)	45.9 (19.8)	<0.01
Number of diagnoses	1,482	1,171	-

The main groups of diagnoses are listed in Table 2. Highlights are: expressive increase (RR≥2) in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), leprosy, melasma, pruritus and hidradenitis suppurativa. However, there was a notable reduction (RR≤0.5) in the scheduling of consultations for surgeries of benign lesions, as well as for drug reactions, urticaria and superficial mycoses.

Table 2
Prevalence of dermatosis groups treated as new cases at the FMB-Unesp de Botucatu (SP) Dermatology Service in 2003 and 2014

Diagnostic group	2003		2014		RR	CI 95%		P*
	N	%	N	%
Inflammatory dermatoses
Alopecia areata	22	1.9%	18	1.7%	0.9	0.6 a	1.3	0.41
Acne	106	9.1%	133	12.3%	1.4	1.2 a	1.5	<0.01
Bullous dermatoses disease	4	0.3%	3	0.3%	0.8	0.3 a	1.9	0.40
Atopic dermatitis	13	1.1%	17	1.6%	1.4	1.0 to	1.9	0.17
Scleroderma	13	1.1%	6	0.6%	0.5	0.3 to	1.0	0.20
Drug reactions	14	1.2%	3	0.3%	0.2	0.1 to	0.7	0.03
Lichenoid eruptions	16	1.4%	27	2.5%	1.8	1.4 to	2.3	0.02
Lupus erythematosus	17	1.5%	14	1.3%	0.9	0.6 to	1.3	0.41
Other eczemas	170	14.5%	103	9.6%	0.7	0.6 to	0.8	0.02
Psoriasis	45	3.8%	49	4.5%	1.2	1.0 to	1.4	0.15
Rosacea	7	0.6%	12	1.1%	1.9	1.3 to	2.6	0.11
Urticaria/Angioedema	50	4.3%	20	1.9%	0.4	0.3 to	0.6	0.01
Vitiligo	43	3.7%	29	2.7%	0.7	0.6 to	1.0	0.29
Infectious dermatoses
Leprosy	14	1.2%	19	1.8%	1.5	1.1 to	2.0	0.14
Hidradenitis suppurativa	3	0.3%	10	0.9%	3.6	2.7 to	4.9	0.03
Bacterial infection	16	1.4%	6	0.6%	0.4	0.2 to	0.8	0.10
Infestations	6	0.5%	4	0.4%	0.7	0.3 to	1.5	0.38
Deep mycoses	6	0.5%	5	0.5%	0.9	0.5 to	1.7	0.40
Superficial mycoses	148	12.6%	47	4.4%	0.3	0.3 to	0.4	<0.01
Syphilis	5	0.4%	12	1.1%	2.6	1.9 to	3.6	0.04
Anogenital wart	11	0.9%	45	4.2%	4.4	3.9 to	5.1	<0.01
Viral wart	37	3.2%	13	1.2%	0.4	0.2 to	0.6	0.01
Neoplastic dermatoses
Cyst/Lipoma	66	5.6%	15	1.4%	0.2	0.2 to	0.4	<0.01
Lymphoma	6	0.5%	9	0.8%	1.6	1.1 to	2.5	0.20
Melanoma	12	1.0%	9	0.8%	0.8	0.5 to	1.3	0.39
NMSC	222	19.0%	220	20.4%	1.1	1.0 to	1.2	0.03
Melanocytic nevi	52	4.4%	22	2.0%	0.5	0.3 to	0.7	0.01
Seborrheic keratosis	65	5.6%	25	2.3%	0.4	0.3 to	0.6	<0.01
Other dermatoses
Androgenetic alopecia	16	1.4%	21	1.9%	1.4	1.1 to	1.9	0.14
Telogen effluvium	13	1.1%	17	1.6%	1.4	1.0 to	1.9	0.17
Genodermatoses	12	1.0%	14	1.3%	1.3	0.9 to	1.8	0.26
Melasma	29	2.5%	68	6.3%	2.5	2.2 to	2.9	<0.01
Onychocryptosis	6	0.5%	3	0.3%	0.5	0.2 to	1.4	0.31
Other	151	12.9%	124	11.5%	0.9	0.8 to	1.0	0.40
Pruritus	8	0.7%	22	2.0%	3.0	2.4 to	3.7	<0.01
Psicodermatoses	22	1.9%	26	2.4%	1.3	1.0 to	1.7	0.17
Chronic ulcer	36	3.1%	22	2.0%	0.7	0.5 to	0.9	0.22

• ^*
  P-value of the residual analysis (adjusted and standardized results); RR: Relative risk; 95% CI: 95% confidence interval; NMSC: Non-melanoma skin cancer, including actinic keratosis

Among the new cases seen in 2003, 524 (44.8%) presented dermatoses with eminently surgical indications, while in 2014 they accounted for 342 (31.7%).

This research identified population profiles and changes in the incidence of dermatological diseases diagnosed in the public service, in the range of 11 years, which ratifies the importance of Dermatology in Brazil's public health system, whether in the clinical, sanitary or surgical grounds. Epidemiological transition proposes that shifts in the pattern of diseases of a population over time follow demographic, social and economic alterations in society.^1,3

The age profile of new patients attended by the Dermatology Service showed an average progression of almost three years in the period evaluated, which should alert to an increase in the incidence of dermatoses in the third age or that result from other diseases or treatments. Pruritus sine materia, lichenoid eruptions and worsening of alopecias may result from comorbidities, drugs or even changes in the skin physiology caused by aging.⁴

The population has undergone nutritional transition with regard to carbohydrate intake, in addition to a greater sedentary lifestyle. As a result, there is a higher prevalence of obesity and insulin resistance. The increase in the incidence of hidradenitis suppurativa and acneiform disorders may be partially due to this phenomenon.⁵

The FMB-Unesp de Botucatu (SP) Dermatology Service centralizes secondary and tertiary care in a region of 13 municipalities (400,000 inhabitants), with approximately 25,000 appointments and 1,200 surgeries per year. In 2010, it was decided that benign neoplasms, Bowen's disease and low-risk basal cell carcinoma (BCC) diagnosed by dermatological screening should be directly referred for surgical treatment, without scheduling as a new case. That has impacted the reduction of the incidence of cysts, lipomas, nevi and seborrheic keratoses, evidenced in 2014. However, even with this measure, the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (BCC, squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen and actinic keratosis) presented a significant increase (RR = 1.1), in line with increased longevity, greater availability of exposure to sun and access to the health system.⁶ These results highlight the need to adapt the health system to properly deal with these cases, to stimulate professional qualification in Cutaneous Oncology, in addition to implement primary prevention and education measures for the population.⁷

Likewise, superficial mycoses, seborrheic eczema, infestations and mild contact dermatitis were counter-referred to treatment in the basic health units, which impacted on their incidence among the new cases of 2014.

STDs, especially syphilis and genital HPV infections, have been increasing in incidence in several countries, especially in the last 15 years. In Brazil, between 2005 and 2013, an increase of 1,170% in gestational syphilis and 247% in congenital syphilis was identified (based on official notifications).^8,9 The increase in the incidence of syphilis and genital warts identified in this study indicates not only the need for training of the health team in Venereology, but also the urgency of campaigns for population knowledge and STD prevention, especially among sexually-active young people, homosexuals, HIV-positive patients and pregnant women.¹⁰

Brazil has diverse sociodemographic realities, which impacts on the local epidemiology of its skin diseases, as well as its temporal dynamics. These data should support the design of the Brazilian public health system and professional qualification policies in the specialty.

• *
  Work conducted at Departamento de Dermatologia da FMB-Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
• Financial support: none.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  May-Jun 2017

History

• Received
  14 Mar 2016
• Accepted
  12 May 2016