Bidirectional Risk Association Between Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Gastroenterology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition.
• HS is associated with comorbidities, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but evidence is limited.
• The bidirectional relationship between HS and IBD requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bidirectional risks between HS and IBD.
• To analyze large-scale patient data to confirm associations.
• To quantify the increased risk of developing one condition given a diagnosis of the other.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale, propensity-score matched retrospective cohort study.
• Utilized the TriNetX platform with over 200,000 HS patients and 3.3 million IBD patients.
• Analyzed 5-year risks and hazard ratios (HR) with confidence intervals (CI) for developing HS or IBD.

Main Results:

• HS diagnosis increased the risk of any IBD diagnosis by 36% (HR 1.356) within 5 years, with Crohn's disease showing the highest risk (HR 2.501).
• IBD diagnosis increased the risk of HS by 31% (HR 1.313), with Crohn's disease again showing the strongest association (HR 2.441).
• Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis showed significant associations with HS in both directions.

Conclusions:

• A significant bidirectional risk relationship exists between HS and IBD.
• Patients with HS have an elevated risk of developing IBD, and IBD patients have an increased risk of developing HS.
• These findings emphasize the importance of considering IBD in HS patients and vice versa.