Dermatologic disorders

Study Details Group-Specific Prevalence Rates of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in the United States is uncommon, but not rare, according to a recent study by Garg and colleagues published in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of more than 48 million patients to establish standardized overall and group-specific prevalence estimates for HS. Of the demographically heterogeneous population-based sample, researchers identified 47,690 patients with HS as of October 27,2016 using electronic health record data. The researchers evaluated patients’ sex, age, and race to determine the standardized overall point prevalence for HS.
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The study found the overall prevalence of HS to be 0.10%, or 98 out of 100,000 persons. Of the 47,690 patients identified with the disease, 26.2% were male and 73.8% were female. The prevalence of HS in women was more than twice that in men, with 137 out of 100,000 persons having HS compared with 58 out 100,000 persons. Patients aged 30 to 39 years had the highest prevalence of HS compared with all other age groups (172 per 100,000 persons). 

Further examination found that HS was prevalent in 296 out of 100,000 African Americans, in 218 out of 100,000 biracial individuals, and in 95 out of 100,000 white individuals.

“Hidradenitis suppurativa is an uncommon, but not rare, disease in the United States that disproportionately affects female patients, young adults, and African American and biracial patients,” concluded the researchers.

—Nina Farrell

Reference

Garg A, Kirby JS, Lavian J, Lin G, Strunk A. Sex- and age-adjusted population analysis of prevalence estimates for hidradenitis suppurativa in the United States [Published Online May h10, 2017]. JAMA Dermatol. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.0201.