Prevalence of skin diseases among elderly prisoners in Taiwan: an examination of skin health in prison

Abstract Background Although prisoner health is a topic of significant importance, it has received limited attention in epidemiological studies, likely due to challenges in obtaining data. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of skin diseases among elderly prisoners in Taiwan. Methods We examined the presence of skin diseases in 2215 elderly prisoners based on the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Additionally, the most common types of skin diseases among elderly prisoners in Taiwan were identified. Results The prevalence of skin diseases among prisoners was estimated to be 55.03%. Elderly men prisoners exhibited a higher prevalence of skin diseases than the women prisoners. The most common skin diseases observed were as follows: contact dermatitis and other forms of eczema; pruritus and related conditions; cellulitis and abscesses; and urticaria. Conclusion Skin diseases were identified in more than half of the elderly prisoners. The overall quality of life of elderly prisoners can be improved by addressing their skin health, which would contribute to the fulfilment of their basic human rights. Clinical trials number NA.