Baseline Characteristics of a National French E-Cohort of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in ComPaRe and Comparison with Other Large Hidradenitis Suppurativa Cohorts

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition substantially impacting patients’ quality of life; the pathogenesis remains unclear, and treatment is complex and not yet standardized. Observational data are increasingly being used to evaluate therapeutics in “real-life” interventions, and the development of e-cohorts is offering new tools for epidemiological studies at the population level. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and treatment history of HS participants in the Community of Patients for Research (ComPaRe) cohort and to compare these to other cohorts. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We performed a cross-sectional study of the baseline data of HS participants in ComPaRe, an e-cohort of patients with chronic diseases. Data were collected using patient-reported questionnaires about clinical-dem­ographic aspects, quality of life, and treatment history. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 396 participants (339 females, 57 males) were included (mean age 38 years); 83 (21%) had a family history of HS, 227 (57.3%) were current smokers, and 241 (60.9%) were overweight or obese. Most of the participants declared a Hurley stage II (<i>n</i> = 263, 66.4%) or III (<i>n</i> = 76, 20.3%). The breast was more frequently affected in women than men (37.5 vs. 5.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.0001), whereas the dorsal region was more frequently affected in men (39.5 vs. 10.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Increased disease stage was associated with obesity (25.9 vs. 33.8 vs. 51.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.02) and some HS localizations (genital [<i>p</i> < 0.005], pubis [<i>p</i> < 0.007], gluteal fold [<i>p</i> = 0.02], and groin [<i>p</i> < 0.0001]). The most frequently prescribed treatments were oral antibiotics (<i>n</i> = 362, 91.4%), especially amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cyclins. Less than 10% of participants received biologics. Most of these results were consistent with previously published cohorts. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Recruitment of participants by such a web platform can be a faster way to get relevant scientific data for a wide variety of patients that could be used for epidemiological studies and to evaluate therapeutics in “real-life” interventions.

Qualitative Systematic Review on the Bio-Psycho-Socioeconomic Impact of Hidradenitis Suppurativa/Acne Inversa

“…Cross-sectional study included 396 participants (339 women and 57 men), of whom 241(60.9%) were overweight or obese, and 227(57.3%) were active smokers. The majority of patients had Hurley stages II (263, 66.4%) and III (76, 20.3%) HS, and the increase in HS stage was related to obesity and some disease locations such as genitals, pubis, gluteal fold and inguinal regions [150]. Retrospective cohort included 102 patients (38 women and 64 men).…”

Hidradenitis Suppurativa: An Interdisciplinary Problem in Dermatology, Gynecology, and Surgery—Pathogenesis, Comorbidities, and Current Treatments

“…This persistent inflammatory disease has a significant impact on quality of life, causing patients to experience social stigma, poor mental health, and higher suicide rates compared to the general public [1.2]. Acne inversa is associated with a range of comorbidities, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type 2, mental health disorders like depression, immune-mediated diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), spondyloarthropathies, psoriasis, alopecia areata, and thyroid dysfunction [ 5 ]. In HS patients, Diabetes mellitus (DM) stands out as perhaps the most prevalent endocrine comorbidity.…”

“…Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the primary type of skin cancer that has been reported in connection with HS [ 1 ]. Several HS therapeutic methods are available, including topical treatment, systemic antibiotics, hormones, biologic therapies, and surgery [ 5 , 7 ]. However, conservative therapy is often ineffective, and surgery is the most efficient [ 8 ].…”

“…Due to being underdiagnosed and under-treated, Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) requires an interdisciplinary management approach to achieve optimal outcomes, considering the associated comorbidities. Consequently, HS should be regarded not only as a dermatological disorder but also as a gynecological and surgical disease [ 5 , 9 ].…”

Impact of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Surgical Treatment on Health-Related Life Quality

“…In patients’ therapy, several methods are used, such as topical treatment, systemic antibiotic therapy, hormones, biologic therapy and surgery [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. First-line antibiotics therapies are clindamycin and the systemic use of clindamycin and rifampicine [ 2 ].…”