Aims:  The aim of the study is to highlight that cutaneous lesion can be markers of nutritional status in the elderly. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: This study took place within the wards of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital over a 3 month period. Methodology: A sample of 126 elderly patients were calculated as the sample size to be assessed for cutaneous lesions, of which 122  were fit enough to have their BMI assessed using standardized protocol of measuring height and weight. The BMI was calculated using the formula -BMI = kg/m2. Results: Out of the total, 55 of them representing 45.1% had normal BMI, 13 representing 10.7% were underweight, 33 (27%) over weight and 21(17.2%) obese. Underweight elderly patients were more likely than those with normal weight to have xerosis, itching, wrinkles, idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis and ulcers. The elderly with overweight and obesity were more likely to have dermatosis papulosa nigra, signs of post-bleaching syndrome and surgical scars. Conclusion: Complaints or observance of cutaneous lesions in elderly should be a reason to investigate nutrition and the solution may lie in nutrition based treatment. More research is however needed to further evaluate the association between cutaneous lesions and body mass index.

Background: Medical therapy amongst advanced age adults sometimes have its inherent significant risks such as adverse drug reactions (ADRs) resulting from the drug itself or drug-drug interactions or interactions from other substances such as alcohol. Aim: The main aim of this study is to highlight ADRs noticed by the older adult while on admission either in the past or present with the goal of preventing them and improving treatment outcomes. Methods: A purposive cross-sectional sampling of 126 elderly patients that were admitted to the different wards of the hospital within a 3-month period was carried out of which 25 older adults who met the criteria of being able to recall ADRs in the past or during current admission were included in the study. Results: ADR was reported in a ratio of M: F ratio of 1:1.08 with a prevalence of 19.8% of the total older patients evaluated. Conclusion: Self-reported ADRs amongst these advanced age in-patients were high. The actual number of adverse drug events may be higher if they actually looked out for by the physicians or other health care workers. The use of screening tools by physicians and other prescribing health workers can help in curbing adverse drug events in older adults.

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