Epidemiological profile of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa at a dermatology service in Southern Brazil

Guilherme Bail-Ferreira, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Maiara C. Macagnan, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Maria E. Meneguetti, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Adriano A. Mehl, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil Danilo H. de Barros, Department of Dermatology, Hospital Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Objective: The present study aimed to identify the epidemiological profile, disease severity, and treatments used by patients with HS referred to a specialized dermatology outpatient service at a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study analyzing the medical records of patients diagnosed with HS referred to a dermatology outpatient clinic at a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil. Data included both clinical characteristics of the patients and assessment of severity and quality of life scores. Results: Ninety-six patients were eligible for the study. Women were predominant, with an average age of 38.4 years. Almost half of the participants were smokers, while 78 % were sedentary and 79 % were overweight. The severity scores showed moderate disease in most patients, significantly impacting quality of life. Patients with symptom onset between the ages of 11 and 20 years had higher DLQI values at diagnosis than the other age groups (p = 0.016). The most commonly used therapeutic by the patients was oral antibiotics associated with topical resorcinol. Conclusion: Our findings were similar to those reported by other Latin American and global studies. Early diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and control of comorbidities are the cornerstones for disease control, offering a better quality of life.

Keywords: Hidradenitis suppurativa. Epidemiology. Brazil.