NAIL CHANGES IN ELDERLY: A CROSS- SECTIONAL STUDY IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: Nail, an index of health, is a very important and significant appendages of skin. Elderly population is at risk of nail alteration reflecting upon their well-being and health status. This epidemiological study was done to find the magnitude of nail changes in elderly population. Material and Method: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted in the dermatology OPD from November 2018 to October 2019.Two hundred (200) patient greater than 60 years were included in the present study. KOH examination, Onychoscopy and biopsy wherever deemed necessary was performed. Result: The study comprised of 200 patients. Mean age of the patient was 65.4 years.56% patient were from rural areas and 44% were from urban areas. Of 200 patients, 191(95.5%) patient showed at least one change in the nail due to ageing. The most common nail finding was pale, dull, opaque and lustreless nail in 70%, Onychorrhexis in 60%, brittleness in 55%, and Onychomycosis in 23.5% patients. Limitation: As this study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital, it does not accurately reflect the prevailing situation in the community. Conclusion: Nail disorder in elderly is very frequent. The most common changes were brittleness, dull, pale. opaque nail and onychomycosis owing to poor personal care and hygiene. Determining the prevalence of nail dermatosis in elderly helps in prioritising the resources thereby reducing the psychological impact and improve their quality of life.