TY - JOUR
T1 - Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) prevalence, demographics and management pathways in Australia
T2 - A population-based cross-sectional study
AU - Calao, Miriam
AU - Wilson, Jodie L
AU - Spelman, Lynda
AU - Billot, Laurent
AU - Rubel, Diana
AU - Watts, Alan D
AU - Jemec, Gregor B E
PY - 2018/7
Y1 - 2018/7
N2 - Background Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a painful, chronic inflammatory skin disease. Global estimates of prevalence vary between 0.03% and 4% of the population. Our main aim was to determine HS prevalence in the Australian adult population focus-sing on the demographics, management pathways and diagnosis rate of individuals living with HS. Methods In this population-based cross-sectional study, 17,050 individuals representative of the Australian adult population were asked through face-to-face household interviews to answer a previously validated HS screening questionnaire with high diagnostic power. Individuals who screened positive were asked additional questions, including previous diagnosis of HS and number/type of physicians consulted regarding their condition. Results 11,433 Australian residents answered the HS questionnaire, 88 screening positive for HS (0.77%; 95% CI 0.62–0.95). Considering the previously reported sensitivity (0.97) and positive predictive value (0.85) of the screening questionnaire, HS prevalence was estimated to be 0.67% (95% CI 0.53%-0.84%). 6 of 88 suspected HS individuals reported a pre-existing HS diagnosis (6.8%; 95% CI 3.2%-14.1%). 25.6% of the undiagnosed individuals suspected of having HS had not seen any clinicians regarding their boils; the remaining ones had consulted General Practitioners (96.7%), and clinicians from different specialties. Comparisons of individuals who screened positive for HS versus those who screened negative demonstrated statistically significant differences in gender (p = 0.0046), age (p<0.0001), BMI (p = 0.0307), smoking status (p<0.0001), employment status (p<0.0001) and income (p = 0.0321). Conclusions The prevalence of HS in Australia was estimated to be 0.67% (95% CI 0.53%-0.84%). The diagnosis rate amongst the suspected HS cases was low, which appeared to be due to a combination of patients not seeking help and decentralization of care. Individuals suspected of having HS were more likely to be females, young, obese, smokers, unemployed or at home duties and having lower annual personal income in comparison with individuals not suspected of having HS.
AB - Background Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a painful, chronic inflammatory skin disease. Global estimates of prevalence vary between 0.03% and 4% of the population. Our main aim was to determine HS prevalence in the Australian adult population focus-sing on the demographics, management pathways and diagnosis rate of individuals living with HS. Methods In this population-based cross-sectional study, 17,050 individuals representative of the Australian adult population were asked through face-to-face household interviews to answer a previously validated HS screening questionnaire with high diagnostic power. Individuals who screened positive were asked additional questions, including previous diagnosis of HS and number/type of physicians consulted regarding their condition. Results 11,433 Australian residents answered the HS questionnaire, 88 screening positive for HS (0.77%; 95% CI 0.62–0.95). Considering the previously reported sensitivity (0.97) and positive predictive value (0.85) of the screening questionnaire, HS prevalence was estimated to be 0.67% (95% CI 0.53%-0.84%). 6 of 88 suspected HS individuals reported a pre-existing HS diagnosis (6.8%; 95% CI 3.2%-14.1%). 25.6% of the undiagnosed individuals suspected of having HS had not seen any clinicians regarding their boils; the remaining ones had consulted General Practitioners (96.7%), and clinicians from different specialties. Comparisons of individuals who screened positive for HS versus those who screened negative demonstrated statistically significant differences in gender (p = 0.0046), age (p<0.0001), BMI (p = 0.0307), smoking status (p<0.0001), employment status (p<0.0001) and income (p = 0.0321). Conclusions The prevalence of HS in Australia was estimated to be 0.67% (95% CI 0.53%-0.84%). The diagnosis rate amongst the suspected HS cases was low, which appeared to be due to a combination of patients not seeking help and decentralization of care. Individuals suspected of having HS were more likely to be females, young, obese, smokers, unemployed or at home duties and having lower annual personal income in comparison with individuals not suspected of having HS.
KW - Adult
KW - Age Factors
KW - Australia/epidemiology
KW - Critical Pathways
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Female
KW - Hidradenitis Suppurativa/diagnosis
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Obesity/epidemiology
KW - Prevalence
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Severity of Illness Index
KW - Sex Factors
KW - Smoking/epidemiology
KW - Socioeconomic Factors
KW - Young Adult
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0200683
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0200683
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30040827
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 13
JO - PLoS Computational Biology
JF - PLoS Computational Biology
IS - 7
M1 - e0200683
ER -
