Dietary patterns in western patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: a cross-sectional study using the rapid prime...

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with multifactorial pathogenesis, in which dietary factors may play a role. This cross-sectional study evaluated dietary patterns in 71 HS patients in a Western population using the validated Rapid Prime Diet Quality Screener (rPDQS) and compared the results with those of a healthy historical US validation cohort representative of the Western diet. The HS cohort had significantly lower mean rPDQS scores than reference group (11 ± 4 vs. 12 ± 4, p = 0.005) and higher rates of overweight/obesity (81% vs. 59%). Processed meat consumption was significantly higher (p < 0.001), nut and nut products intake significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the HS group. Beyond objective dietary assessment, patient-reported outcomes highlighted diet as a perceived factor influencing disease: 27% reported diet-related factors as negatively affecting HS, whereas 28% cited diet-particularly healthy eating-as beneficial. Our findings suggest that HS patients may follow less healthy dietary patterns than the reference group and that patient perceptions of diet may represent an additional relevant dimension. The results highlight potential dietary targets for intervention and suggest that both dietary patterns and patient perceptions of diet may play a role in HS.