Patients with HS have higher likelihood of substance-related, psychiatric disorders

Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa are more likely to have substance-related disorders as well as psychiatric disorders, according to a presentation at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology congress.

“Although primarily thought of as a cutaneous disorder, HS is now acknowledged to have systemic manifestations and comorbidities,” Kevin Phan, MD, of Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, and colleagues wrote. “The aim of this study is ... to determine if an association exists between HS and psychiatric comorbidities, suicide and substance abuse.”

In a meta-analysis, researchers preformed electronic database searches for HS cases and controls followed by a manual review.

Statistical analysis showed HS cases had a significantly higher prevalence of schizophrenia compared with the control group (OR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.53-1.79, P < .00001). Researchers also found HS had a significant association with bipolar disorders (OR = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.65-2.33, P < .00001), depression (OR = 1.75; 95% CI, 1.44-2.13, P < .00001), anxiety (OR = 1.71; 95% CI, 1.51-1.92, P < .00001), personality disorders (OR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.18-1.92, P = .001), suicide (OR = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.27-3.42, P = .004), substance-related disorders (OR = 2.84; 95% CI, 2.33-3.46, P < .00001) and alcohol abuse (OR = 1.94; 95% CI, 1.43-2.64, P < .0001).

“HS is a debilitating, painful and isolating disease which substantially lowers patients’ quality of life,” Phan and colleagues wrote. “This highlights the importance of adequately managing pain from HS lesions, as well as screening for the use of alcohol, opioids and/or cannabis, particularly in those experiencing severe pain from HS. Future studies to assess the benefit of screening patient’s quality of life in order to identify those at risk for suicide is warranted.”