A Retrospective Study to Evaluate the Impact of In-Patient Dermatological Consultations on Diagnostic Accuracy in a Tertiary Care Setting

BACKGROUND: Dermatology is primarily an outpatient specialty. However, dermatology consultations play an important role in care of inpatients. Data on inpatient dermatological consultations in tertiary care settings is limited. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate clinical characteristics of inpatient dermatological consultations and effect on clinical outcomes in a tertiary care setting. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective study where the records of all dermatological consultations for patients admitted under various specialties, emergency services, and intensive care units (ICU) at our tertiary care institute over 2 years period were reviewed. The details of patients, primary care unit, dermatological complaints, diagnosis, investigations performed, treatment given, and follow-up were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Total of 1717 dermatologic consultations (1000 males) were recorded, with mean age of study population being 33.6 ± 21.6 years (median - 32 years). Out of total 1717 patients, 136 (7.9%), 321 (18.7%), 1135 (66.1%), and 125 (7.3%) patients were infants, children, adolescents, adults, and elderly, respectively. The most frequent diagnostic group was infective diseases (586; 34.1%) followed by inflammatory diseases (442; 25.7%), mucocutaneous adverse drug reactions (160; 9.3%), and autoimmune diseases (65; 3.8%). Primary team's diagnosis was concordant with the dermatology consultation in 1112 (64.8%) patients and discordant observations were recorded in 605 patients (35.2%). Most discordant dermatological diagnoses included inflammatory disorders such as lichen planus, atopic dermatitis, bullous pemphigoid; mechanical disorders; nutritional deficiency disorders, and benign neoplasms. CONCLUSION: Common skin conditions account for a large majority of dermatologic consultations in a hospital setting. Inpatient dermatology consultations improve the diagnostic accuracy.