Self-reported skin morbidity in Denmark: A population-based cross-sectional study

Background: Skin diseases are thought to be common in the general population. In 2004, a cross-sectional study in Norway, using a validated questionnaire for 18,770 individuals, revealed a high prevalence of skin diseases in the general population. Objectives: To describe the prevalence of self-reported skin morbidities and possible socio-demographic and economic associations in the Danish general population, and furthermore compare this data to that reported in Norway. Materials and methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of the adult Danish suburban population was performed. Participants (n = 20,164) completed the Norwegian validated questionnaire. Results: In total, 17.2% self-reported skin complaints. The most prominent self-reported skin complaint was itch with an overall prevalence of 6.5%. The skin morbidity most influenced by age was pimples. There was a uniform pattern showing fewer skin complaints with increasing education. Women reported skin morbidities more frequently than men. Participants in employment reported fewer skin morbidities compared to unemployed participants. Conclusion: Skin morbidities in Denmark are common, and the distribution of prevalence estimates in the Danish population parallel those of the Norwegian population, although the prevalence is generally higher in Norway. This difference may be attributed to climatic differences, and age, education, sex, and employment status may also be influential.