Hyperhidrosis Prevalence and Demographical Characteristics in Dermatology Outpatients in Shanghai and Vancouver

Abstract

BackgroundThere is a wide variation in the reported prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis in the literature. Further, it is unknown if primary hyperhidrosis is a lifelong condition, or if demographical factors influence hyperhidrosis prevalence.ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the prevalence of hyperhidrosis in multiple ethnic groups from two ethnically diverse cities and to determine if the prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis changes according to age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, and geographical locations.MethodsIn total, 1010 consecutive subjects attending dermatology outpatient clinics in Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital and 1018 subjects in Skin Care Center of Vancouver General Hospital were invited to fill out a questionnaire on their presenting concerns, demographical information, and sweating symptoms. The subjects were then classified to have primary hyperhidrosis using the criteria of International Hyperhidrosis Society, late-onset hyperhidrosis, or no-hyperhidrosis. The prevalence of primary HH and late-onset HH was calculated for the entire study population and in subgroups stratified according to age of examination, sex, ethnicity, presenting diagnosis, body mass index, and specific study cities. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of these factors on HH prevalence.ResultsThe prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis is very similar in Shanghai and in Vancouver, at 14.5% and 12.3% respectively. In addition, 4.0% of subjects in Shanghai and 4.4% subjects in Vancouver suffer from late-onset HH. Primary HH has highest prevalence in those younger than 30 years of age, decreasing dramatically in later years. Caucasian subjects are at least 2.5 times more likely to develop axillary hyperhidrosis compared to Chinese subjects. Obesity does not have much influence on primary HH presentation, although it does increase significantly the development of late-onset HH. Finally, there is no major difference of hyperhidrosis between Chinese subjects in Shanghai and Vancouver.LimitationsThe data were gathered according to patients’ self-reports only and the sample size was relatively small in some groups after stratification for gender, ethnicity and age.ConclusionPrevalence of primary HH and late-onset HH is similar in dermatology outpatients independent of geographical locations. However, certain specific HH subtypes can show great variations according to ethnicity, age, body mass index and sex.

Hyperhidrosis: an update on prevalence and severity in the United States

“…Even though the 4.8 % estimate is higher than previously thought for the U.S. population, it is still far below prevalence reported in other countries [1, 7, 16, 20], indicating that the current finding may still be a conservative estimate. The reasons for differences in prevalence estimates are not known, although demographical, geographical, diagnostic criteria, and methodologies used for estimating prevalence differ between studies [16].…”

“…The reasons for differences in prevalence estimates are not known, although demographical, geographical, diagnostic criteria, and methodologies used for estimating prevalence differ between studies [16]. This study may also differ from other reports due to some limitations.…”

“…Prevalence estimates of primary (focal) hyperhidrosis outside of the United States are all higher and vary widely, ranging from 4.6 % in Germany, 5.5 % in Sweden, 12.3 % in Vancouver, Canada, 12.8 % in Japan, and 14.5 % in Shanghai, China [1, 7, 16, 20]. Prevalence estimates that include both primary and secondary hyperhidrosis range from 13.9 % in Japan, 16.3 % in Germany, 16.7 % in Vancouver, 18.4 % in Shanghai, and 20.3 % in Sweden [1, 7, 16, 20].…”

“…Prevalence estimates that include both primary and secondary hyperhidrosis range from 13.9 % in Japan, 16.3 % in Germany, 16.7 % in Vancouver, 18.4 % in Shanghai, and 20.3 % in Sweden [1, 7, 16, 20]. …”

Clonidine is effective for the treatment of primary idiopathic hyperhidrosis and hot flushes: a case report

“…The prevalence of hyperhidrosis in the general population was estimated at approximately 3 %, with much higher prevalence among patients at a dermatology clinic [2, 3]. Primary (idiopathic) hyperhidrosis constitutes more than 90 % of the cases of hyperhidrosis and is diagnosed after excluding relevant underlying diseases or drug intake [4].…”