The Burden of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in a Cohort of Patients in Southern Finland: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that impacts the quality of life.

METHODS

We evaluated its burden in a cohort of 26 Finnish patients in a single-center cross-sectional study. Demographic data, disease history, clinical data, treatment patterns, and workability were collected. Patients responded to the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21).

RESULTS

Mean age of HS patients was 44.2 years and mean diagnostic delay was 13.7 years. Pain was rated the most bothersome symptom. Mean DLQI score was 8.31. Women consistently had higher scores than men for every item of the DLQI. Mean BDI-21 score was 10.69. Higher Hurley stage at visit (p = 0.001), female gender (p = 0.018), and higher BDI-21 score (p = 0.022) were variables that significantly affected the total DLQI score, whereas female gender (p = 0.004) was the only variable that significantly affected the total BDI-21 score using stepwise regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of HS is for the first time reported in Finland. The diagnostic delay is longer than previously reported and the results suggest that women are impacted by the disease more than men.