Photosensitivity reactions in the elderly population: questionnaire-based survey and literature review

Figures & data

Figure 1 Design of the study.

Figure 2 The number of potentially photosensitizing drugs used by the patients.

Table 1 The distribution of patients according to the number of drugs taken simultaneously

Number of drugs	Number of patients (percentage of total patients)	Mean age (minimum – maximum)
2	1 (0.3%)	65
3	5 (1.4%)	74 (65–80)
4	9 (2.5%)	67 (65–71)
5	54 (15.2%)	70 (65–93)
6	76 (21.3%)	71 (65–88)
7	67 (18.8%)	72 (65–98)
8	62 (17.4%)	73 (65–91)
9	45 (12.6%)	74 (65–90)
10	23 (6.5%)	72 (65–94)
11	8 (2.3%)	77 (70–84)
12	5 (1.4%)	75 (69–87)
13	1 (0.3%)	84

Note: Only drugs used in the treatment of chronic diseases were taken into account.

Table 2 Drug types used by 356 participants of the study

Drug classes	Number of drugs	Number of phototoxic/photoallergic drugs	Number of cutaneous photosensitivity reactions
Cardiovascular drugs	47	18	12
Antidiabetes drugs	6	2	2
Central nervous system drugs:	40	10	0
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	12	4	22
Gastrointestinal tract drugs	6	–	–
Gout drugs	1	–	–
Ophthalmic drugs	3	–	–
Respiratory system drugs	13	–	–
Antiallergenic drugs	5	–	–
Analgesics	4	–	–
Drugs affecting thyroid glands	2	–	–
Genitourinary system drugs	6	–	–
Minerals	3	–	–
Other drugs	4	–	–
Total	152	34	36

Table 3 Drugs potentially causing phototoxic/photoallergic reactions used by 356 participants of the study

Drug class	Drug name	Administration	Number of patients	Number of cutaneous photosensitive adverse reactions
Cardiovascular	Hydrochlorothiazide	Oral	47	6
	Atorvastatin	Oral	191	2
	Simvastatin	Oral	23	2
	Telmisartan^a	Oral	8	2
	Amiodarone	Oral	3	0
	Amlodipine	Oral	106	0
	Candesartan	Oral	3	0
	Enalapril	Oral	14	0
	Fenofibrate	Oral	3	0
	Furosemide	Oral	57	0
	Indapamide	Oral	121	0
	Losartan	Oral	4	0
	Perindopril	Oral	16	0
	Ramipril	Oral	42	0
	Torsemide	Oral	8	0
	Valsartan	Oral	33	0
Antidiabetic drugs	Metformin	Oral	95	2
	Glipizide	Oral	6	0
Central nervous system drugs	Alprazolam	Oral	6	0
	Amitriptyline	Oral	3	0
	Chlorpromazine	Oral	5	0
	Citalopram	Oral	6	0
	Escitalopram	Oral	4	0
	Fluoxetine	Oral	2	0
	Paroxetine	Oral	2	0
	Perazine	Oral	2	0
	Sertaline	Oral	11	0
	Venlafaxine	Oral	2	0
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Ketoprofen	Oral, topical	79	22
	Diclofenac	Oral, topical	83	0
	Ibuprofen	Oral, topical	21	0
	Naproxen	Oral, topical	61	0

Note: ^aTwo-component preparation: telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide.

Table 4 Use of photoprotection by the respondents

Questions asked	All	Women	Men
Do you use cosmetics to protect against solar radiation (creams with a filter)?
Always	32	30 (94%)	2 (6%)
Only in spring and summer	114	91 (80%)	23 (20%)
Never	210	102 (49%)	108 (51%)
Did the treating physician inform you about the need for sun protection?
Yes	135	98 (73%)	37 (27%)
No	221	108 (49%)	113 (51%)
Did the pharmacist inform you about the need for sun protection?
Yes	167	118 (71%)	49 (29%)
No	189	85 (45%)	104 (55%)