Epidemiological Insights in Hidradenitis Suppurativa in a Predominantly Hispanic Population: The Miami Experience

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that disproportionately affects women and skin of color. In this single-center study, we investigate the epidemiologic landscape of HS individuals in South Florida, which possesses a large and diverse Hispanic population.

A retrospective chart review from the University of Miami Hospitals and Clinics was conducted, identifying HS patients between 2010 and 2023 according to the pertinent International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Data extraction included demographic information, past medical history, and laboratory results. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analyses were performed to detect statistically significant relationships.

Among the 3,515 identified charts, almost half were identified as Hispanic or Latino (47.0%), and 31.7% identified as Black or African American (AA). Over 50% of patients had elevated haptoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (51.2% and 53.4%, respectively). There were also trends of hyperuricemia in HS patients, though this did not reach statistical significance. Female sex was associated with a higher prevalence of pilonidal disease (PD) (odds ratio [OR] 2.99, p < 0.001), particularly in Hispanic females compared to non-Hispanic females (OR 3.22, p < 0.001, and OR 2.74, p < 0.001, respectively).

In South Florida, HS disproportionately affects AA and Hispanic/Latino women. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are commonly associated with HS, and uric acid may serve as a potential marker for metabolic derangement, although larger studies are needed to investigate this relationship. Female patients with HS are at increased risk of developing PD, highlighting the need for personalized comorbidity screening and therapeutic management of HS.