Two-year analysis of dermatological out-of-hours consultations at Frankfurt University Hospital.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, emergency consultations have become more common in all medical disciplines. In Germany, dermatological out-of-hours consultations are handled by emergency practices, emergency departments and tertiary care providers. Little information is available on the reasons for these dermatological consultations.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze patient characteristics, diagnoses and admission rates resulting from these consultations.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study covering two years of out-of-hours consultations at a dermatological tertiary referral center.

RESULTS: A total of 3635 patients presented at the referral center. The most frequent outpatient diagnoses were acute urticaria (13.8 %) and bacterial infections (12.3 %). 83 % of the outpatient diagnoses required the most advanced competence level according to the new German curriculum for undergraduate education of medical students. 405 (11.01 %) patients did not require dermatological treatment, and 430 patients (13.6 %) were admitted to hospital. Most admissions were due to bacterial infections and herpes zoster. Advanced age, pain and fever were associated with a relatively high risk of admission.

CONCLUSIONS: Admission rates at the dermatological tertiary referral center were substantially lower than at interdisciplinary emergency departments. A few diagnoses accounted for more than half of all consultations. These diagnoses are well represented within the new German curriculum.