Use of Clinical Public Databases in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Research

In this viewpoint, we argue that recent studies using clinical public databases have revolutionized our understanding of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory skin condition with significant impacts on patients' quality of life. Our key messages are as follows: (1) these databases enable large-scale studies integrating genetic, epidemiological, and clinical data, providing crucial insights into HS's genetic predispositions, comorbidities, and treatment outcomes; (2) findings highlight a strong genetic component, with mutations in the γ-secretase complex playing a key role in HS pathogenesis and shaping targeted therapies; (3) studies also reveal elevated risks for comorbidities like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and systemic inflammation in patients with HS, with diet-driven inflammatory pathways potentially exacerbating disease severity; (4) while these databases offer unprecedented research opportunities, limitations such as data representativeness and quality must be considered; (5) nonetheless, their benefits outweigh potential drawbacks, allowing the identification of rare comorbidities, disease progression patterns, and personalized treatment strategies; and (6) increased funding for HS research is crucial to harness these databases' full potential, develop targeted therapies, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. As HS's impact is disproportionate to current research investments, we believe advocating for more resources and addressing database limitations will be key to advancing HS understanding and care.