Disparities in Hidradentitis Suppurativa Clinical Trials: An Updated Review of ClinicalTrials.gov from 2020 to 2024

There is a notable lack of diversity in dermatologic studies, even concerning conditions that are known to have a higher prevalence in the skin of color (SOC) population, such as hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). This study updates the current literature on SOC representation in dermatology by analyzing the demographics and locations of HS clinical trials from 2020 to 2024, during which there were significant advancements in therapeutics.

A search of the term "hidradenitis suppurativa" was conducted on the ClinicalTrials.gov website for trials initiated between June 2020 and December 2024.

Five clinical trials totaling 411 participants were included. Caucasian/White participants (n=281, 68.4%) comprised the majority, followed by African American/Black (n=93, 22.6%) participants. In comparison to HS trials from 2008 to 2020, the 5 recent trials between 2020 and 2024 demonstrated a significant (P<0.001) increase (14.9% vs 22.6%, respectively) in the percentage of Black participants. Most US clinical trial sites (n=38, 59.3%) were located in cities with moderate (12.6-49.9%) to high (>50%) Black populations.

The increase in the proportion of Black participants in HS clinical trials from 2008-2020 to 2020-2024 demonstrates a promising outlook for improved representation in HS clinical trials. Nonetheless, an underrepresentation of Black participants in HS clinical trials continues to persist, highlighting the necessity for continued efforts in the inclusion of SOC individuals in clinical research.