Motivos dermatológicos de consulta en atención primaria. Análisis de la demanda derivada / Skin Conditions in Primary Care: An Analysis of Referral Demand

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las enfermedades cutáneas constituyen uno de los principales motivos de consulta en atención primaria (AP), motivo por el que el médico de AP está obligado a conocer su diagnóstico y su importancia e integrar estos conocimientos y aptitudes en su formación. En este estudio realizamos un análisis de los motivos de derivación desde AP a asistencia especializada (demanda derivada) y de la concordancia diagnóstica entre médico de AP y dermatología/anatomía patológica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se recogieron datos de 755 pacientes y 882 primeras consultas de Dermatología procedentes de AP, en el periodo comprendido entre el 1 de febrero de 2012 hasta el 30 de abril de 2012, a los que aplicamos un protocolo de recogida de datos (edad, sexo, profesión, motivo de derivación, diagnóstico de AP y de dermatología). Con los datos realizamos un estudio estadístico para conocer frecuencias, motivos de derivación, sensibilidad y especificidad y los valores predictivos positivos (VPP), valores predictivos negativos (VPN) e índices kappa de concordancia diagnóstica. RESULTADOS: Los diagnósticos más frecuentes fueron queratosis seborreicas, nevus melanocíticos, queratosis actínicas y acné. El motivo más frecuente de derivación fue la valoración diagnóstica (52,5%). La sensibilidad (S) y especificidad (E) del diagnóstico en tumores cutáneos fueron de S = 22,4%, E = 94,7%, VPP = 40,7% y VPN = 88,3%, κ = 0,211 y en los diagnósticos más frecuentes la S en general es baja y la E bastante alta. CONCLUSIONES: El médico de AP, de acuerdo con nuestros resultados, está más capacitado para afirmar que el paciente no padece determinada enfermedad cutánea (E alta) que para establecer el verdadero diagnóstico clínico (S baja), lo que nos sugiere la necesidad de planificar acciones formativas que se traduzcan en una aumento de los conocimientos y aptitudes necesarias para el correcto manejo de las enfermedades cutáneas, especialmente por su trascendencia del cáncer de piel. Sin duda redundaría en una mayor agilidad del sistema, menos listas de espera y una mejor atención sanitaria

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide in recent years. Some authors have described skin conditions associated with obesity, but there is little evidence on the association between insulin levels and such disorders. OBJECTIVE: To describe the skin disorders present in overweight and obese patients and analyze their association with insulin levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included nondiabetic male and female patients over 6 years of age who were seen at our hospital between January and April 2011. All the patients were evaluated by a dermatologist, who performed a physical examination, including anthropometry, and reviewed their medical history and medication record; fasting blood glucose and insulin were also measured. The patients were grouped according to degree of overweight or obesity and the data were compared using analysis of variance or the χ2 test depending on the type of variable. The independence of the associations was assessed using regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 109 patients (95 adults and 13 children, 83.5% female) were studied. The mean (SD) age was 38 (14) years and the mean body mass index was 39.6 ± 8 kg/m2. The skin conditions observed were acanthosis nigricans (AN) (in 97% of patients), skin tags (77%), keratosis pilaris (42%), and plantar hyperkeratosis (38%). Statistically significant associations were found between degree of obesity and AN (P = 0.003), skin tags (P = 0.001), and plantar hyperkeratosis. Number of skin tags, AN neck severity score, and AN distribution were significantly and independently associated with insulin levels. CONCLUSIONS: AN and skin tags should be considered clinical markers of hyperinsulinemia in nondiabetic, obese patients

Skin conditions in primary care: an analysis of referral demand.

INTRODUCTION: Skin conditions are among the main reasons for seeking primary health care. Primary care physicians (PCPs) must diagnose skin conditions and determine their impact, and must therefore incorporate the relevant knowledge and skills into their education. The present study analyzes the reasons for primary care referral to dermatology (referral demand) as well as diagnostic agreement between PCPs and dermatologists informed by pathology where appropriate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected for 755 patients and 882 initial dermatology appointments from February 1, 2012 through April 30, 2012 following primary care referral. Data obtained included age, sex, occupation, reason for referral, primary care diagnosis, and dermatologic diagnosis. Statistical analysis of the data for each diagnosed condition identified frequency, reasons for referral, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the κ statistic for diagnostic agreement. RESULTS: The most common diagnoses were seborrheic keratosis, melanocytic nevus, actinic keratosis, and acne. The main reason for referral was diagnostic assessment (52.5%). For skin tumors, sensitivity of primary care diagnosis was 22.4%, specificity 94.7%, PPV 40.7%, and NPV 88.3%, with a κ of 0.211. For the more common diagnoses, primary care sensitivity was generally low and specificity high. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, primary care physicians are better qualified to rule out a given skin condition in a patient (high specificity) than to establish an accurate clinical diagnosis (poor sensitivity). This suggests that knowledge and skills training should be organized for primary care physicians to improve management of skin conditions-especially skin cancer, because of its impact. A more responsive system would ensue, with shorter waiting lists and better health care.