Which hidradenitis suppurativa comorbidities should I take into account?

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent skin inflammatory disease associated with a variety of comorbidities, like metabolic syndrome, reduced quality of life, sexual dysfunction, working disability, inflammatory bowel disease, axial spondyloarthritis, depression and anxiety. Like psoriasis, HS patients have been found to have higher risk of cardiovascular death and suicide risk. Evidence suggests that for such a chronic, multi-comorbid disease, the use of validated outcomes to assess severity and effect of treatment, along with the use of clinically important patient reported outcomes, is essential. Clinicians should be informed about these comorbidities so that appropriate screening is implemented. The potential of available treatments to negatively and positively affect these comorbidities should also be taken into account when designing treatment strategies. This article aims to provide an outline of important HS comorbidities with emphasis on possible implications for daily clinical practice.