Hyperhidrosis – Sweating Sites Matter: Quality of Life in Primary Hyperhidrosis according to the Sweating Sites Measured by SF-36

Abstract

Background: Primary hyperhidrosis has negative impacts on quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the impacts of primary hyperhidrosis on quality of life are different depending on the localisation of the sweating. Method: We compiled background data, Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) post hoc results from 2 previous studies. Cases who described only 1 site as their most problematic area of sweating were included (n = 160/188) while individuals with multifocal primary sites of hyperhidrosis were excluded (n = 28/188). Results: Individuals included were 11–62 years old with a mean age of 30.2 ± 10.4 years, and axillary hyperhidrosis (65.6%) was the most common type of hyperhidrosis. Comorbidities were more common when hyperhidrosis was reported in other than the axillary, palmar, and plantar regions. Excluding comorbidities showed the lowest SF-36 mental component summary scores for axillary (41.6 ± 11.6), palmar (40.0 ± 9.4), and plantar hyperhidrosis (41.1 ± 13.7). The HDSS showed the highest proportion of severe cases in axillary (60.6%) and palmar (51.5%) hyperhidrosis (p < 0.01) while mild cases were more often observed in plantar (60%), facial (83.3%), and other sites (85.7%) in primary hyperhidrosis (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our results indicate that impairments in quality of life can be different depending on the manifestation of primary hyperhidrosis on the body. This can have an influence on how patients with hyperhidrosis could be prioritised in health care. Subgroup samples affected by facial hyperhidrosis and other sites of primary hyperhidrosis were however small, and more research is required to verify our findings.

Two‐week prospective observational study of 5% sofpironium bromide gel in Japanese patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis

“…Primary focal hyperhidrosis severely affects many aspects of daily life including emotional wellbeing, interpersonal relationships, leisure activities, personal hygiene, work and productivity, and self‐esteem 3 . In the post hoc analysis of two previous studies investigating the Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36) and a Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) score of 188 patients with primary hyperhidrosis, axillary hyperhidrosis was reported to be the most common type of hyperhidrosis and had a higher negative impact on the patient's quality of life (QOL), depending on the severity of hyperhidrosis symptoms, compared with other types of hyperhidrosis 4 . A cross‐sectional web‐based survey was conducted among 321 patients with axillary hyperhidrosis in Japan to calculate hygiene product costs and productivity loss using a work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire 5 .…”

“…3 In the post hoc analysis of two previous studies investigating the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and a Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) score of 188 patients with primary hyperhidrosis, axillary hyperhidrosis was reported to be the most common type of hyperhidrosis and had a higher negative impact on the patient's quality of life (QOL), depending on the severity of hyperhidrosis symptoms, compared with other types of hyperhidrosis. 4 A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among 321 patients with axillary hyperhidrosis in Japan to calculate hygiene product costs and productivity loss using a work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire. 5 In this survey, the annual hygiene product cost based on the nationwide estimation was ¥24.5 billion and the monthly productivity loss was ¥312 billion.…”

Long-term follow-up in quality of life before and after endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy in 367 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis

“…Nowadays, the issue of QOL is receiving considerable attention (5), especially the long-term change after particular medical intervention. Besides, many previous studies assessed QOL with scales in general nature (6)(7)(8). In other words, there is a paucity of study evaluating QOL with questionnaire specified for patients with PH.…”

Analysis of sweating by optical coherence tomography in patients with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis

“…The complex autonomic nervous system dysfunction and abnormal central control of emotions have been hypothesized to be involved in hyperhidrosis but the exact mechanism involved remains to be elucidated 2 . Hyperhidrosis decreases the quality of life for many patients in various situations, such as their social life and it has mental and/or psychological impacts 5,6 . Furthermore, it has been reported that the risk of cutaneous infection is increased in patients with hyperhidrosis, and an association with atopic or eczematous dermatitis was found 7 …”