Hidradenitis suppurativa: Epidemiology and scope of the problem

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving painful, deep abscesses and chronic, draining sinus tracts. Because of the variable signs and symptoms displayed by patients, it remains widely unrecognized and difficult to treat, resulting in significant diagnostic delay and inconsistent treatment process. No medical specialty has successfully designated a criterion standard of treatment, resulting in variable care and unmet patient needs. Widespread causes and effects of HS are difficult to determine because the prevalence is dependent on a variety of things, including how and where data are collected, resulting in significant bias. Therefore, the task must be to assess existing studies to produce a best estimate of prevalence. In addition, the 3 types of studies available for HS (ie, self-report, registry-based, and group examination studies) must be evaluated because each offers important insights into who is impacted by this disease. The exact prevalence of HS remains unknown because of the difficulty in collecting and extrapolating data and the usefulness of studies; however, high comorbidity and disease severity is observed, resulting in increased hospital visits for patients with HS--nearly double that of other diseases. Finally, comparisons between HS and psoriasis are worth mentioning because the similarities are clear, but the severity of HS appears to be more debilitating in many aspects of life. This article will address the epidemiology of HS through current available research.