Epidemiology and comorbidity of hidradenitis suppurativa in Korea for 17 years: A nationwide population‐based cohort study

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is associated with various metabolic and autoimmune diseases. The epidemiology has been analyzed in various studies worldwide. However, epidemiological data on HS for Asian populations are limited. This study aimed to analyze the change in the prevalence and incidence of HS over 17 years in South Korea using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. This study also evaluated the comorbidities in patients with HS. Population‐based data from the NHIS database of Korea were obtained between January 2003 and December 2019. Odds ratios were estimated to determine the association between comorbidities and HS during the study period. Hazard ratios for the risk of incident comorbidities in patients with HS were obtained using the multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis. This study included 45 511 patients with HS and 910 220 controls matched for age, sex, insurance type, and income level. The incidence rate of HS per 1 000 000 person‐years in Korea increased from 11.69 in 2003 to 78.78 in 2019. The annual prevalence per 1 000 000 people also increased from 34.68 in 2003 to 140.10 in 2019, showing a similar trend. Many comorbidities, including atopic, metabolic and end‐organ, autoimmune/inflammatory, and psychiatric diseases were associated with HS at baseline. In many diseases, the risk of incident comorbidities in patients with HS was higher than that in controls. The incidence and prevalence of HS in Korea have increased over the past 17 years. Various comorbidities, including allergic diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, myocardial infarction, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, vitamin D deficiency, and psychiatric diseases, were associated with HS. Physicians need to keep in mind and closely monitor these comorbidities in patients with HS.

Association between hidradenitis suppurativa and atopic diseases: a multi-center, propensity-score-matched cohort study

“…In a previous meta-analysis, despite the high heterogeneity in the existing evidence, the odds ratio for developing atopic dermatitis in HS patients was calculated to be 4.10 (95% CI, 2.16-8.18), whereas the odds ratio for asthma was 1.50 (95% CI, 1.24-1.81) 6 . In studies with a longitudinal design, a recent Korean study reported a 1.54-fold risk (95% CI, 1.47-1.61) for atopic dermatitis and a 1.21-fold risk (95% CI, 1.16-1.26) for asthma in HS patients 37 . The higher risk of atopic dermatitis in HS may be partially attributed to a potential genetic link between the two conditions, as suggested by a two-sample Mendelian randomization study 8 .…”

Targeting Metabolic Syndrome in Hidradenitis Suppurativa by Phytochemicals as a Potential Complementary Therapeutic Strategy

“…After the onset of the first symptoms, the diagnosis of HS still takes about 10 years on average, a fact that is important because the disease duration correlates with the number of comorbidities of respective patients [7]. Despite the regional differences, men appear to be as equally affected as women when viewed globally [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Given the great physical and mental burden of the disease, it is not surprising that HS patients have been found to show a considerable reduction in quality of life parameters, and this reduction is even more pronounced compared to other chronic inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis or atopic dermatitis [14].…”

“…Nutrients 2023, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 30 appear to be as equally affected as women when viewed globally [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Given the great physical and mental burden of the disease, it is not surprising that HS patients have been found to show a considerable reduction in quality of life parameters, and this reduction is even more pronounced compared to other chronic inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis or atopic dermatitis [14].…”