Prevalence of skin diseases among hospitals in the public healthcare system of a developing country

Abstract

Background

Skin diseases in the population are universal, common, and can cause significant economic burden. The impact of skin diseases in the national public healthcare system is complex and poorly studied. This study analyzes the prevalence of skin diseases in a hospital setting within the National Public Health System of Mexico and describes the main associated characteristics.

Methods

Information was obtained from the 2015 hospital discharge database of the public healthcare system of Mexico. Pathologies that result in a direct dermatological condition were included according to chapter XII of the Tenth Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD ‐ 10) and grouped according to the classification of the report, The burden of skin diseases in the United States.

Results

In 2015, a total of 9,230,968 hospital discharges were registered nationwide, of which 170,917 discharges (1.85%) reported a dermatological disease as the main diagnosis; five states account for 40.79% of the cases reported in Mexico. Half of all the cases corresponded to skin infections (32.08%, n = 54,843) and non‐cancerous skin growths (27.80%, n = 47,515), and 59.71% were adult patients between 18 and 65 years of age.

Conclusions

Understanding of the configuration of skin diseases in a hospital setting and public healthcare system is warranted to develop effective public policies and research for the development of effective, safe, high‐quality care processes for the main groups of identified diseases.

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