New-onset depression among children, adolescents, and adults with hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND

Information on the risk of depression among children, adolescents, and adults with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of new-onset depression in patients with HS with that of control individuals.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort analysis of 49,280 adult and 3042 pediatric patients with HS and matched control individuals identified by using electronic health record data. The primary outcome was incident depression.

RESULTS

The crude incidence rate was 4.8 per 100 person-years in adult patients with HS compared to 3.0 per 100 person-years in control individuals. Among pediatric patients, the crude incidence rate was 4.2 per 100 person-years in patients with HS compared with 2.3 per 100 person-years in control individuals. In adjusted analysis, adults and pediatric patients with HS had a 10% (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.13; P < .001) and 26% (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.44; P < .001), respectively, increased risk of developing depression compared to control individuals. Among patients with HS, factors associated with depression included female sex, white race, smoking, and body mass index/obesity in adults and pediatric patients and substance abuse in adults only.

LIMITATIONS: Patients not seeking care in health systems within the database were not captured.

CONCLUSION

Children, adolescents, and adults with HS are at an increased risk for developing depression, independent of other common risk factors for depression.