Open AccessThe spectrum of skin‐related conditions in primary care during 2015–2019–A Finnish nationwide database study
Author(s) -
Salava A.,
OkerBlom A.,
Remitz A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
skin health and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2690-442X
DOI - 10.1002/ski2.53
Subject(s) - medicine , medical diagnosis , primary care , family medicine , dermatology , public health , health care , pediatrics , nursing , pathology , economics , economic growth
Summary Background Skin‐related conditions are the frequent cause of doctors’ consultations in primary care. Methods Based on nationwide data bank information of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, we analysed the 20 most frequent main diagnoses for each ICD‐10 category of all general practitioners’ visits in the public health care in Finland over the years 2015–2019. Results The total amount of doctor’s visits was 19 204 613 of which 1 489 228 consultations (7.80%) had a skin‐related condition as the main diagnosis. The most frequent skin‐related conditions were eczematous eruptions, bacterial skin infections and benign skin neoplasms accounting for 749 351 consultations (50.32%). The spectrum of skin‐related conditions was diverse, with a large quantity of rarer diagnoses. Some diagnoses showed significant proportional changes. Conclusions The results demonstrate that a limited amount of conditions comprises most of the skin‐related consultations in primary care in Finland. Undergraduate education in dermatology should concentrate on the most frequent conditions seen by general practitioners, but also address the wide range of skin problems.