Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Comorbidities of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Dermatol Clin. 2016 Jan;34(1):7-16. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2015.08.002.

Abstract

It is challenging to estimate a true prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) because it is underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. Prevalences have been reported from 0.00033% to 4.1%. The incidence seems to be rising. In addition to dermatologic symptoms, HS is associated with metabolic syndrome, and increased cardiovascular risk. The majority of HS patients are smokers. Additional somatic comorbidities complicating HS include autoimmune conditions, follicular syndromes, rheumatologic conditions, and malignancies. HS patients are troubled by psychological comorbidities. When treating HS patients it is imperative not only to treat the skin symptoms, but also address the screening and treatment of possible comorbidities.

Keywords: Hidradenitis suppurativa; Incidence; Malignancies; Metabolic syndrome; Prevalence; Psychological comorbidities; Smoking; Spondylarthritis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / epidemiology*
  • Hair Diseases / epidemiology
  • Hair Follicle
  • Hidradenitis Suppurativa / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Rheumatic Diseases / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology*