Clinical analysis of elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with skin complications

Objective To analyze the prevalence and characteristics of skin diseases in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Clinical out patient records for both elderly and non-elderly individuals with T2DM were collected from the dermatology department of Beijing Hospital.Statistical comparisons were performed between the elderly group and the non-elderly group on the prevalence of common skin complications and disease characteristics.Analysis was performed in the elderly group to identify any association of common skin disorders with gender, age, duration of T2DM, or level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Results Among 679 elderly T2DM cases, pruritus was the most common complication (26.1%), followed by eczema (21.1%) and tinea pedis/onychomycosis (18.3%). Pruritus was more prevalent in the elderly group (177 cases, 26.1%) compared to the non-elderly group (34 cases, 9.8%) (χ2=6.006, P<0.01). On the other hand, tinea pedis/onychomycosis was less prevalent in the senior group (124 cases, 18.3%) than in the non-senior group (112 cases, 32.2%) (χ2=37.437, P<0.01). In the senior group, pruritus was more prevalent among male patients (105 out of 358 cases, 29.3%) than among female patients(72 out of 321 cases, 22.4%) (χ2=4.181, P=0.041). On average, patients with eczema were older〔(72.3±2.2)years〕and had a longer history of T2DM〔(8.3±0.3)years〕compared with patients without eczema〔age: (65.2±1.9)years, history of T2DM: (5.2±0.1)years〕 (t=1.250, P=0.023 for age; t=1.680, P=0.033 for disease duration). Patients with tinea pedis/onychomycosis had higher HbA1c levels (6.7±0.4)% than patients without tinea pedis/onychomycosis (6.1±0.3)% (t=0.790, P<0.01). Conclusions Pruritus is the most common skin complication in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and is more common in elderly patients and male patients.Risk factors for developing eczema in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes may include older age and long disease duration.High levels of glycosylated hemoglobin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes indicates increased risk for foot fungi infections. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Skin diseases