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Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa utilize ED, inpatient care more than patients with psoriasis

Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa had greater usage of high-cost medical settings, including ED and inpatient care, compared with patients with psoriasis, according to recently published study results.

Researchers at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center examined the MarketScan medical claims database to identify 7,901 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and 69,295 patients with psoriasis between 2008 and 2012. The two cohorts were compared because “both are chronic, inflammatory conditions with intermittent flares and associated with higher rates of obesity, tobacco use and depression,” the researchers wrote.

The mean age of the HS cohort was 36.2 years, which was significantly younger than the mean age of the psoriasis cohort (43.5 years). Females made up the majority of the HS cohort (75.4%), while males comprised the majority of the psoriasis cohort (51.6%). Hospitalization occurred in 5.1% of patients in the HS cohort and 1.6% in the psoriasis cohort (P < .0001). The HS cohort also was more likely to use the ED (7.4% vs. 4.2%) or inpatient care (5.1% vs. 2.5%) compared with the psoriasis cohort (P < .0001). Patients in the HS cohort had a significantly higher 5-year per patient mean costs of $3,535 compared with $2,591 for patients with psoriasis, after adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities.

“This investigation of disease-specific costs confirmed that, compared with patients with psoriasis, even severe psoriasis, patients with HS had a higher utilization of high-cost venues, such as ED and inpatient care,” the researchers concluded. “More effective treatments, better recognition by clinicians of this waxing and waning condition, and improved access to treatments and clinicians are needed to improve the well-being of patients and minimize avoidable use of inpatient and ED care.” – By Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.