Phillips GS, et al. - The clinicians performed this work to identify inpatient dermatology consultations at a large comprehensive cancer center. For dermatology inpatient consultations, hematologic malignancies were a significant risk factor. A significantly longer length of stay was correlated with dermatology consultations, suggesting high comorbidities in these patients. Increased dermatologic care of these inpatients could improve quality of life, dermatologic health, and ability to receive anticancer agents.

Methods

• From January-December 2015, the clinicians performed a retrospective database query of new admissions and a medical record review of initial inpatient dermatology consultations comparing consulted inpatients with non-consulted inpatients.

Results

• Out of 11,533 inpatients, 412 received 471 dermatology consultations (54% male, median age 59.5).
• Patients with hematologic cancers, compared to non-hematologic cancers, were 6 times more inclined to receive dermatologic consultations (OR 6.56, 95%CI (5.35, 8.05), p<.0001).
• A significantly longer length of stay was observed in patients consulted by dermatology (median 11 vs 5 days, p<.0001).
• The most common categories were inflammatory diseases, infections, and drug reactions, among the 645 dermatologic conditions diagnosed.
• Contact dermatitis, herpes zoster, and chemotherapy-induced drug eruptions were the most frequent conditions.