Beyond skin deep: the unseen burden of hidradenitis suppurativa on sleep and quality of life.

Objectives: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) causes pain, discharge, odor, and scarring, potentially worsening sleep quality and psychological health. This study evaluated sleep, mood, and quality of life in HS patients compared to healthy controls, considering disease severity. We hypothesized that increased HS severity significantly impairs these outcomes.

Methods: This case-control study involved 55 HS patients from a university hospital and 55 healthy controls. Participants completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). HS severity was assessed using the Hurley staging system, and pain was measured with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Results: HS patients had significantly higher anxiety, depression, DLQI, and PSQI scores than controls (p < 0.001). Depression scores correlated with Hurley stage (p = 0.041), but anxiety, DLQI, and PSQI scores did not (p > 0.05). VAS pain scores over the past week correlated with anxiety (p = 0.005), depression (p = 0.020), and DLQI scores (p < 0.001). DLQI scores positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and PSQI scores (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). Depression scores correlated with anxiety and PSQI scores (p < 0.001 for both). Anxiety and PSQI scores also showed a positive correlation (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: HS is associated with poorer mood, sleep quality, and quality of life compared to healthy controls.