Onychomycosis in the elderly. A 2-year retrospective study of 138 cases

Background

As life expectancy increases worldwide, so does the incidence of age-related pathologies, among them onychomycosis (OM). This fungal infection of the nails may represent a potential risk of complications among elderly due to the presence of concomitant diseases that can complicate their treatment.

Objective

To determine the frequency of onychomycosis among elderly patients over a period of 2 years at the General Hospital of Mexico “Dr Eduardo Liceaga”.

Methods

Retrospective, observational, descriptive study.

Results

A total of 138 patients were diagnosed with onychomycosis. Of these, 43 (31.2%) reported no concomitant diseases. The most common comorbidities in the remaining patients was arterial hypertension in 50 patients (36.2%) and diabetes mellitus in 49 (35.5%); the most common clinical type of OM was total dystrophic (87 patients, 63%), with involvement of the hallux of both feet (48 patients, 34.8%). The average evolution was 12 years; 60 patients (42.3%) denied previous treatments, and 32 (22.5%) used OTC medicines. In 125 patients (90.6%), filaments, yeasts or arthroconidia were observed. On culture examination, Candida yeasts (24 patients, 46.2%), followed by Trichophyton rubrum (21 patients, 40.4%) were identified.

Conclusions

Approximately 9 out of 10 nail disorders in the elderly were onychomycosis; many of these patients may present with comorbidities such as hypertension or diabetes mellitus, which often complicate treatment outcomes, affecting quality of life. Elderly patients should receive adequate health education and monitoring. This will improve their quality of life.