PERFIL EPIDEMIOLÓGICO DE PACIENTES CON QUERATOSIS ACTINICA EN UNA CLÍNICA MÉDICA DE LA CIUDAD DE PALOTINA-PR

Abstract

Actinic keratosis (AK) is an abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes in the epidermis and is the most prevalent pre-malignant skin lesion in humans in the world and has a close relationship with chronic sun exposure. specific characteristics that can define this pathology, its pathogenesis involves factors that make it a benign lesion that can transform into skin cancer, normally a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which represents 20% of all cutaneous malignant neoplasms. AK is present in the daily lives of doctors, being the fourth main diagnosis in dermatology consultations, behind only acne, photoaging and basal cell carcinoma. Diagnosis is clinical, with the aid of dermoscopy and pathology when necessary, and treatment can be ablative or topical depending on each case of the pathology. Objective: To define an epidemiological profile for patients with actinic keratosis (AK) treated at a clinic in the city of Palotina in the state of Parana, from August 2021 to August 2023. Methods: Descriptive, quantitative research, of an applied nature, documentary procedure, with a deductive approach, 555 medical records were collected from the clinic's database for analysis. Results: The presence of AK was verified in 21% of cases, the most affected sex was female with 67% prevalence, the average of the age of the patients was 62.21 years, the place on the body most affected by injuries was the face, where 75% of the patients had AK and the place on the face most affected was the nasal region, representing 28%, it was recorded that 52% of patients used sunscreen. Conclusion: The research concluded that it is still necessary for health professionals to motivate patients about the correct use of sunscreen to prevent injuries like this.