Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Darmstadt, Germany: A Contribution to the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas.

Introduction: The knowledge of the epidemiology of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in Germany is currently insufficient. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HS in Darmstadt, Germany, and contribute to the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA).

Methods: This monocentric, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Klinikum Darmstadt, Germany, from January to February 2024. Data from 519 healthy accompanying adults were included after obtaining oral and written consent. A validated screening questionnaire, used as an index test before clinical examination, was performed on screening-positive and randomly selected screening-negative participants as a reference test.

Results: The prevalence of HS in Darmstadt, Germany, was 1.16% (6/519; confidence interval: 0.95: 0.53%-2.50%). The HS group had a median age of 37.5 years and a median BMI of 32.5. No predominance of sex or smoking status could be found in the HS group and there were no statistical differences between the groups in sex, age, or smoking status. However, the median BMI was significantly higher in the HS group.

Conclusion: The study found the prevalence of HS in Darmstadt, Germany, to be 1.16%, which is significantly higher than previously reported rates in Germany. This study found an association between BMI and HS. However, it did not observe the previously reported association between HS and sex or smoking status. The questionnaire used is a valid screening tool for HS in the assessment of the general population.