Quality of Life and Psychosocial Implications in Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

BACKGROUND

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a long-term skin disorder associated with high levels of psychological distress and significant life impact.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quality of life, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-esteem in patients with HS.

METHODS

Ninety-four patients with HS were enrolled in the study. The quality of life, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-esteem of the patients were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-Version 3), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), respectively.

RESULTS

The DLQI mean score was 11.43 ± 6.61 in patients with HS. The patients with HS presented statistically significantly higher anxiety (6.41 ± 3.31 vs. 5.00 ± 1.59, p < 0.001), depression (5.45 ± 2.79 vs. 4.16 ± 1.54, p < 0.001), and loneliness and social isolation scores (42.86 ± 8.63 vs. 35.57 ± 6.17, p < 0.001) and lower self-esteem scores (18.91 ± 1.79 vs. 19.77 ± 2.53, p = 0.008) than the healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

HS is a distressing, recurrent disease that impairs quality of life. We can suggest services that allow an integrated approach, which includes psychosocial support, offering the patients relief from isolation and an opportunity to share common experiences.