Mortality and cause of death in patients with dermatologic diseases: An 11-year record-based observational study

Abstract

Background: Information on the cause of death is critical in guiding decisions on health infrastructure. However, there is a relative paucity of mortality data in patients with dermatologic diseases. Objectives: We aim to assess the overall mortality from dermatological disorders in a third-level university hospital which serves as a dermatology referral center. Methods: A retrospective medical note review of patients with dermatologic diseases who died during an 11-year period (from March 2008 to February 2020) was undertaken. Results: There were 63 death cases out of 2810 admissions for patients with dermatologic diseases (crude mortality 2.24). The average age was 61.8 years and the male-to-female ratio was 2.3. Cutaneous malignancies (53.96) were the primary causes of death, followed by drug reactions (23.8). Among skin cancers, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 47.05) and melanoma (35.29) were the leading causes of death. Toxic epidermal necrolysis (53.33) was the leading cause of death among drug reactions. Sepsis (30.74) was the most common immediate cause of mortality in this series. A large fraction of patients (73) had significant underlying comorbidities. Conclusion: The principal cause of mortality was cutaneous malignancies (mainly SCC and melanoma) followed by drug reactions. Sepsis was the most common immediate cause of death.