title: Profile of patients admitted to a triage dermatology clinic at a tertiary hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knowledge of epidemiological data on skin diseases is important in planning preventive strategies in healthcare services.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess data from patients admitted to a triage dermatology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed of patients admitted over a one-year period to the Triage Dermatology Clinic at the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School. Data were obtained from record books. The variables analyzed were: patient age, gender, dermatologic disease (initial diagnosis), origin (from where the patient was referred) and destination (where the patient was referred to).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 16,399 patients and 17,454 diseases were identified for analysis. The most frequent skin disorders were eczema (18%), cutaneous infections (13.1%), erythematous squamous diseases (6.8%) and malignant cutaneous neoplasms (6.1%). Atopic dermatitis was the most common disease in children. Acne was more common among children and adults, as were viral warts. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were more common in the elderly. Contact dermatitis and acne predominated in women. The most frequent origins were: the primary/secondary health system (26.6%), other outpatient specialties (25.5%), emergency care (14.9%); while the destinations were: discharged (27.5%), follow-up in our Dermatology Division (24.1%), return (14.1%) and the primary/secondary health system (20.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the incidence of skin diseases is fundamental in making decisions regarding resource allocation for clinical care and research. Thus, we believe our findings can contribute to improving public health policies.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertanha
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Erica Judite Pimentel
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nelumba
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Alyne Korukian
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Freiberg
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Paula
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Samorano
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Cyro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Festa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003880:Dermatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014218:Triage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult