THE PREVALENCE OF HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA AND ITS POTENTIAL PRECURSOR LESIONS

Background: The morbidity of hidradenitis suppurativa can be considera ble, but little is known about its epidemiology. Objective: Our purpos e was to describe the 1-year and point prevalences of hidradenitis sup purativa and its potential precursor lesions. Methods: We obtained the histories and examined an unselected sample (599 persons) of the gene ral population (1-year prevalence), and we performed physical examinat ions for a consecutive sample of 507 persons undergoing screening for sexually transmitted diseases (point prevalence). Results: The point p revalence was 4.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]=3.0-6.0) on the basis of objective findings. The 1-year prevalence of hidradenitis was 1.0% (CI=0.4-2.2) on the basis of subject recollection only. The patients in the sample on which point prevalence is based were younger than tho se in the unselected sample of the general population (p <0.001). Hidr adenitis was significantly more common in women (p=0.037), which may r esult from a female preponderance of genitofemoral lesions (odds ratio [OR]=5.4; CI=1.5-19.3). No sex difference was found in the prevalence of axillary lesions. Conclusion: Hidradenitis suppurativa is signific antly more common than hitherto estimated. The female preponderance of patients is confirmed, except for patients with axillary lesions. Add itional longitudinal studies are necessary to assess the importance of potential precursor lesions such as noninflamed nodules or comedones.