Clinical Characteristics and Epidemiology of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Korea: A Single-center Study

You, Hye Rin; Yun, Sook Jung; Lee, Seung Chul; Won, Young Ho; Lee, Jee Bum

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, recurrent, debilitating inflammatory disease characterized by tender subcutaneous nodules, painful deep dermal abscesses, and sinus tracts. However, there are few data regarding the epidemiology of hidradenitis suppurativa in Asian patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical features, clinical stages, and associated diseases in Korean patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.
METHODS
In all, 53 patients who had visited Chonnam National University Hospital from 2005 to 2014 were included. Their age of onset, distributions, Hurley stage, associated diseases, and conditions were evaluated.
RESULTS
Mean onset age was 24.3±12.5 years, with male predominance (male 84.9%, female 15.1%). Lesions occurred most frequently in the buttock (75.5%), followed by the axilla, inguinal area, pubic area, and scalp. In total, 32.1% patients were at stage I, 45.3% at stage II, and 22.6% at stage III according to the Hurley staging system. Further, 58.5% patients were obese and 54.7% were current or ex-smokers. Acne conglobata (47.2%) was the most common associated disease. In addition, 9.4% patients had diabetes mellitus, 1.9% had hypertension, and 7.5% had dyslipidemia.
CONCLUSION
Male predominance has been observed for hidradenitis suppurativa in Korea, which is different from that reported in previous studies. Hidradenitis suppurativa is sometimes accompanied by hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, and is more common in obese patients and smokers. Compared with non-smokers, smokers including ex-smokers show greater severity of hidradenitis suppurativa. To date, this is the first report on the clinical characteristics and epidemiology of hidradenitis suppurativa in Korea.