Diagnostic Accuracy of a Questionnaire Screening Test in Assessing the Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Sydney, Australia.

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with significant patient burden and impact on quality of life. Australia has a population of over 25 million people, with an estimated 29% of people born overseas. Previous studies have estimated the prevalence of HS in Australia to be approximately 0.67%, but methodological issues limit the accuracy of this estimate. This study was a part of the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA) initiative, aiming to objectively quantify the prevalence of HS in Australia.

Methods: The methodology followed the previously published GHiSA methodology. A validated questionnaire was used to identify patients likely to have a diagnosis of HS. Screen-positive patients as well as a selection of screen-negative patients underwent clinical examination by a single physician experienced in the identification, diagnosis and management of HS to further validate the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire.

Results: A total of 1,657 eligible healthy accompanying adults were approached, of whom 1,002 consented for inclusion in the study (60.5%). A total of 9 were survey screen-positive for HS, representing a prevalence of 0.9% (95% CI: 0.5%-1.7%).

Conclusions: This single tertiary referral center study identified an HS prevalence of 0.9% in Australia. The methods address the deficiencies in other methodologies and provide insight into the prevalence of HS globally as part of the GHiSA initiative.