Quality of life and psychological aspects of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa in Saudi Arabia: A hospital-based multi-center study

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic recurrent painful auto-inflammatory skin disease of the terminal hair follicle, causing nodules, abscesses, sinus tracts, and scars on intertriginous areas. Purpose: This study aims is to determine the effect of HS on patients' psychology and quality of life in the Makkah population. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, multi-center study conducted on HS patients who visited the dermatology clinic during 2017−2020. A total of 165 patients participated in the study by completing a questionnaire consisting of demographic data, the dermatology life quality index, depression, anxiety, and stress score. Results: In total, 147 patients were included in the final analysis, and the mean age of the participants was 32.0 ± 10.6. HS had a very large effect on the quality of life of 32% of the participants. Quality of life was worse with the number of flares per year (P < 0.003) and with axillary and perianal involvement, (P < 0.018 and P < 0.024, respectively). Moreover, a higher level of depression was associated with a higher body mass index (P < 0.020). Conclusion: HS had a large effect on the quality of life regardless of Hurley stage and was correlated with the number of flares per year and area of disease involvement.