Prospective analysis of skin findings in medical critically ill patients in intensive care units

Abstract

We aimed prospectively to investigate skin disorders developing in critically ill medically treated patients during their ICU stay. Critically ill medically treated patients were analyzed for factors affecting the rate and clinical properties of skin disorders. We recorded age, sex, comorbidities, skin disorders, time to consultation, ICU admission, duration of ICUs stay, and mortality rate. Among 1276 patients admitted to ICUs, 11.8% (n: 151) had a dermatology consultation requested. The mean age of the study population was 68.9 +/- 15.2 years (18-96 years), and 56% of the subjects were female. Infective skin lesions were detected in 47.7% of patients, dermatoses in 36.4%, and drug reactions in 15.9%. The mean age of patients with the skin disease was significanlty higher than without skin disease group (P<0.05). The frequency of skin disorders increased in rate in patients having diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, and malignancy (P<0.05). The hospitalization period of patients with skin disease was significantly longer than without skin disease group (P<0.05). The rate of skin disorders increased with prolonged ICUs stay, and they were associated with increased mortality (P<0.05). There was an increased rate of skin infection in patients of internal medicine ICU, while the rates of drug reactions and dermatoses were significantly higher in patients admitted to other ICUs (P<0.05). The time to consultation was longest for patients diagnosed with skin infections and shortest for patients with dermatoses (P<0.05). Skin disorders that developed in patients treated at ICU were correlated to age, comorbid conditions, duration of ICU stay and mortality.