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Hidradenitis suppurativa associated with significant cardiovascular risk

Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa had a significantly increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality, according to study results in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers in Denmark used nationwide administrative registers to conduct a population-based cohort study between 1997 and 2011. A study population of 35,368 Danish people included 5,964 patients (72.9% women; mean age, 37.7 years) with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) who were matched with 29,404 controls based on age, sex and calendar time.

Myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, cardiovascular (CV)-associated death, major adverse CV events and all-cause mortality were study outcomes.

During a mean follow-up time of 7.1 years, in the patients with HS, there were 62 MIs, 74 ischemic strokes, 63 CV-associated deaths, 169 major adverse coronary events and 231 all-cause deaths. When adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, comorbidity and medication, the incidence rate ratios were 1.57 (95% CI, 1.14-2.17) for MI; 1.33 (95% CI, 1.01-1.76) for ischemic stroke; 1.95 (95% CI, 1.42-2.67) for CV-associated death; 1.53 (95% CI, 1.27-1.86) for major adverse coronary events; and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.15-1.59) for all-cause mortality.

In a sensitivity analysis using 13,093 patients with severe-psoriasis as controls, age- and sex-adjusted IRRs in patients with HS were 1 for MI, 0.93 for ischemic stroke, 1.58 for CV-associated death, 1.08 for major adverse coronary events and 1.09 for all-cause mortality.

“We found a significantly increased risk of MI, ischemic stroke, CV-associated death, MACEs and all-cause mortality in patients with HS after adjustment for confounding factors,” the researchers wrote. “The results … were comparable to the risk of CV disease and all-cause mortality in patients with severe psoriasis, albeit with an increased risk of CV-associated death in those with HS,” the researchers concluded. “The results call for greater awareness of this association and for studies of its clinical consequences.”– by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.