Hidradenitis suppurativa linked to adverse maternal, offspring outcomes

Key takeaways:

• Mothers with hidradenitis suppurativa had a higher risk for hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes and severe maternal morbidity.
• Their children were at a higher risk for premature birth and birth defects.

Hidradenitis suppurativa was linked to adverse maternal and offspring outcomes during the peripartum period and in the long-term, according to a study.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a painful disorder that is accompanied by many comorbidities and mainly affects women of reproductive age. According to Nathalie Auger, MD, MSc, clinical professor at the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec in Canada, the disease affects pregnancy outcomes as well as morbidity in mothers and their children.

“In this study, hidradenitis suppurativa was linked with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery and other pregnancy complications,” Auger told Healio. “Mothers and their children were also more likely to be hospitalized in the long-term period following pregnancy.”

During the population-based longitudinal cohort study spanning 2006 to 2022, 1,324,488 births occurred, of which 1,332 were among mothers with HS. The researchers followed up with these mothers and births for 16 years to judge long-term health outcomes.

Compared with mothers without HS, mothers with HS were more likely to have a comorbidity at the time of pregnancy (22.4% vs. 7.4%; P < .001). Results showed these mothers were 1.55 times (95% CI, 1.29-1.87) more likely to experience hypertensive disorders associated with pregnancy compared with mothers without HS. They were also more likely to have gestational diabetes (RR = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.4-1.85) and severe maternal morbidity (RR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.03-1.84).

Offspring of mothers with HS were 1.29 times (95% CI, 1.07-1.56) more likely to have a birth defect and 1.28 times (95% CI, 1.07-1.53) more likely to be born prematurely.

Mothers with HS were also associated with a 2.29 times (95% CI, 2.07-2.55) higher risk for hospitalization for respiratory, metabolic, psychiatric and immune-related morbidity over time compared with mothers without HS. Their children were also associated with a 1.31 times (95% CI, 1.18-1.45) higher risk for hospitalization for similar reasons than children whose mothers did not have HS.

“We did not expect that hidradenitis suppurativa, which is often considered just a skin condition, could have such widespread effects on the health of mothers and their children,” Auger told Healio. “As a result, these patients may benefit from closer obstetric follow-up and clinical management during pregnancy, in the postpartum period and later in life.”