The relationship between hidradenitis suppurativa and irritable bowel syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder in which one experiences abdominal pain, tension, cramping, bloating, and changes in the form and frequency of defecation, without an underlying organic disease. Many skin diseases have been reported to be more common in people with functional bowel disease. To our knowledge, however, no previous study investigated the potential relationship between hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and IBS. In this study, we aimed to examine the potential association between IBS and HS.

Patients with HS and healthy subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All participants were assessed for the presence of IBS. ROME IV criteria were used to identify IBS cases. Hurley staging, modified Sartorius score, and physician's global assessment score were applied to define clinical severity and staging of HS.

According to the Rome IV diagnostic criteria, 54 (67.50%) of 80 HS patients and 23 (28.75%) of 80 control group were diagnosed with IBS. The frequency of IBS was statistically significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of abnormal stool frequency and family history of IBS (P = 0.28, P = 0.862, respectively). Abnormal stool form, mucus in stool, abdominal distension, feeling of incomplete evacuation were statistically significantly higher in HS patients compared to the controls (P = 0.01, P = 0.02, P < 0.001, P = 0.001, respectively).