Natl. J. Physiol. Pharm. Pharmacol. (2025), Vol. 15(2): 124-127

Research Article

10.5455/NJPPP.2025.v15.i2.2

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Surveillance and sociodemographic variables of various skin diseases in patients coming to skin OPD of Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, India

Rattan Lal Bassan¹, Anureet², Yash Pal Mitra³ and Karan Chhabra^1*

¹Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology; Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, India

²Department of Anatomy, Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, India

³Department of Community Medicine, Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, India

*Corresponding Author: Karan Chhabra. Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology; Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, India. Email: drkaranchhabra92 [at] gmail.com

Submitted: 02/11/2024 Accepted: 01/01/2025 Published: 28/02/2025

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ABSTRACT

Background: Skin diseases are responsible for significant morbidity among the general public in the general population of India.

Aims: To Determine the distribution and patterns of skin diseases. To correlate socioeconomic and demographic variables with skin diseases in patients attending Skin and V.D opd of PIMS, Jalandhar.

Methods: Cross-sectional one-time study of patients coming to the Department of Skin and V.D; PIMS, Jalandhar will be clinically diagnosed for various skin diseases for a period of 6 months. Data will be collected using a predesigned semistructured proforma. The collected data will be statistically analyzed. Inclusion criteria were those who agreed and gave consent. Exclusion criteria for those who did not agree.

Results: Shows that out of 13365 patients, 3,461 (25.9 %) were infective, 720 (5.4 %) had autoimmune conditions; 392 (2.9 %) had STD; 733 (5.5 %) had pigmentary disorders; 4,674 (35%) were allergic, and 3,385 (25.3%) Other conditions. In infective diseases (3,461) males were 49 % and females were 51 %; 41% resided in urban areas, and 59 % in rural areas; In (3,461) 24 % belonged to upper, 27 % middle, and 49 % were lower socioeconomic status. Out of 720, 52% belong to the upper, 20% to middle, and 28% to lower socio-economic status groups. In sexually transmitted diseases (392), males were 51% and females were 49%, out of 392, 30% belong to upper, 26 % middle, and 44 % lower socioeconomic status. In allergic (4674) diseases, males were 48 % and females were 52 %, and out of 4674, 42% belonged to the upper, 17 % middle, and 41 % belonged to the lower socioeconomic status.

Conclusion: Our Study shows that the number of skin diseases is increasing. Out of these patients, the non-infective group was more prevalent. Sex-wise male/female ratio of patients with skin disorders was not significant. Our study also showed that skin diseases are more common in lower socioeconomic groups, probably due to overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, illiteracy, and inadequate nutrition.

Keywords: SPSS (statistical package for social sciences).

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Introduction

Skin and subcutaneous diseases are responsible for significant morbidity worldwide and among the general public in India, but they do not get due importance in national health planning and policies in several countries (World Health Organization. 2005; Hay et al., 2006). Pattern of skin diseases vary from state to state (Gupta 2015). Skin diseases can place a heavy emotional and psychological burden on patients that may be far worse than the physical impact (Ayer and Burrows 2006). Increased consciousness, especially among the youth of their body and beauty, further aggravates their anxiety (Bajaj et al., 2009). In addition to a hot and humid environment, other factors that play a part in skin conditions such as Scabies and Fungal infections, overcrowding, poor hygiene, and shortage of water also play a significant role in developing Nations (Rao et al., 2003; Zamania and Mahjum 2005; Devi and Zamzachin 2006; Atraide et al., 2011). Skin diseases in rural areas are more prevalent due to their poverty and lack of awareness among the people (Ali 2018).

Although mortality and morbidity are less in dermatology, they still have a great impact on quality of life, i.e., disfigurement of self-image, symptoms such as intractable itch and social isolation (as in leprosy and vitiligo), and financial burden (Hay et al., 2006). The prevalence of skin diseases was reported to be a bit low in hospital settings (Devi and Zamzachin 2006; Agarwalet al., 2011; Kar et al., 2014; Jawade et al., 2015; Dimri et al., 2016). The study will be done to find out the pattern of skin disorders and to describe their association with various socioeconomic demographic factors in patients attending Skin and V.D opd of PIMS. Diagnosis will be made on a clinical basis, and lab investigations will be done if required for diagnostic importance (Shibeshi 2000; Das and Chatterjee 2007). Such observations are useful in developing educational and preventive health programs for the benefit of the public. The study by Asokan et al. (2009) focus on the upgradation of medical graduates and the strengthening of primary healthcare, tertiary care, and referral system (Asokan et al., 2009).

Fig. 1. Prevalence of skin diseases in skin &V.D Opd of PIMS for period of 6 months.

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Aims and Objectives

• To determine the distribution and patterns of skin diseases.
• To corelate socioeconomic and demographic variables with skin diseases.

In patients attending Skin and V.D opd of Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar.

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Material and Methods

Study population

Consecutive patients coming to Skin and V.D opd of PIMS for 6 Months from 1/03/2024 to 31/08/2024.

Study design

Cross-sectional one-time study on a predesigned semistructured proforma, based on history and clinical examination.

Study setting

Department of Skin and V.D; Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, India.

Study protocol

Patients coming to skin opd will be clinically diagnosed with various skin diseases, and if required, diagnostic tests will be performed after providing informed written consent.

Study tool

Data will be collected using a predesigned semistructured proforma.

Data analysis

The collected data will be analyzed statistically by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences).

Study duration

Patients visiting the skin opd will be examined for various skin diseases for 6 months, from 1/03/2024-31/08/2024, who agreed to participate in the study.

The inclusion criteria were as follows

Participants who agreed, provided consent, and were present on the day of the study. The exclusion criteria were those who did not agree or were absent.

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Results

TableTable 1 as depicted in Figure 1 shows that out of 13,365 consecutive patients attending Skin O.P.D in 6 months duration (period of study), 3,461 (25.9 %) were of infective conditions, 720 (5.4 %) were of Autoimmune conditions, 392 (2.9 %) were of sexually transmitted diseases, 733 (5.5 %) were of pigmentary disorders, 4,674 (35%) were of allergic conditions, and 3,385 (25.3%) were other conditions.

Table 2 shows that out of the infective diseases (3,461) cases, males were 49 % and females were 51 %, and 41% resided in urban areas, whereas 59 % resided in rural areas, and out of 3,461, 24 % belong to upper, 27 % middle, and 49 % belong to lower socioeconomic status. In autoimmune (720) diseases, males were 48 % and females were 52 %, and 42% resided in urban areas whereas 58 % resided in rural areas, and out of 720%, 52% belonged to upper, 20% middle, and 28% belong to lower socioeconomic status. In sexually transmitted diseases (392), 51% of males and 49% were females, and 45% resided in urban areas, whereas 55% resided in rural areas, and out of 392%, 30% belong to upper, 26% middle, and 44% belong to lower socioeconomic status. In pigmentary disorders (733), males were 49% and females were 51%, and 42% resided in urban areas whereas 58% resided in rural areas, and out of 733%, 39% belonged to upper, 24% middle, and 37% belong to lower socioeconomic status. In allergic (4,674) diseases, males were 48% and females were 52%, and 43% resided in the urban area whereas 57% resided in rural areas, and out of 4,674, 42% belonged to upper, 17% middle and 41% belong to lower socioeconomic status. In Others (3,385), males were 49% and females were 51%, and 41% resided in urban areas whereas 59% resided in rural areas, and out of 3,385, 43% belonged to upper, 19% middle, and 38% belonged to lower socioeconomic status.

Table 1. Type of skin diseases ( N-13365).

Table 2. Gender, residence, and socio-economic status of patients with various skin diseases attending skin O.P.D ( N-13365).

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Discussion

In our study, out of 13,365 new patients coming to skin opd within 6 months, 25.9% were of infective conditions, 48.8% were of non-infective conditions, 5.4% were autoimmune conditions, 2.9% were of sexually transmitted diseases, 5.5% of Pigmentary disorders and 35% were allergic conditions, and 25.3% were other conditions. These findings were not consistent with those of the study conducted by Gupta et al. (2015), where 38.19% were of infective origin, 47.98% were of non-infective, and 13.83% were of miscellaneous conditions.

In our study, out of 13,365 participants, 49% were males and 51% were females. This corresponds to the study conducted by Ranjan et al. (2020). Out of 33,925 respondents, 42.48 % were males and 57.52% were females.

In our study, patients with skin disorders were more common in rural areas (58%) than in urban areas (42%). This corresponds to the study conducted by Ranjan et al. (2020), where 75.52 % belonged to rural areas whereas 24.48% belonged to urban areas.

In our study, 38% belong to the upper class, 21% belong to the middle class, and 41% belong to the lower class. These findings are similar to the study conducted by Ranjan et al. (2020), 46.9% belong to the lower class.

In our study, non-infective skin diseases (48.8%) were more common among patients coming to skin and v.d opd of PIMS, probably because our institute is a tertiary care hospital situated in an urban area. There was not much difference in the prevalence of skin diseases between men and women in our study. The prevalence of skin diseases is higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and more so in lower socioeconomic status due to poor hygiene, illiteracy, overcrowding and under nutrition.

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Conclusion

Our study shows that no. of skin diseases are becoming more common. Out of these patients non-infective group was more prevalent. Sex wise male/female ratio of patients with skin disorders was not significant. These disorders are more common in rural than urban areas. Our study also showed that skin diseases are more common in lower socioeconomic groups, probably due to overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, illiteracy, and under nutrition.

In this study, a strong need for health education and surveillance regarding awareness of skin disorders and their treatment and referral system as part of health care was felt.

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