COVID-19 Infection in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients: A Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is associated with comorbidities that are risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection. We evaluated demographics and COVID-19 outcomes in HS patients. METHODS: HS patients with COVID-19 (HS+/COVID+) and a randomized age-, race-, and sex-matched control population of patients without HS with COVID-19 (HS−/COVID+) were selected through a retrospective chart review. Data were collected on demographics, medications, comorbidities, vaccination status, and COVID-19 treatment/outcomes. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the relationship between risk factors and COVID-19 outcomes. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were 58 HS+/COVID+ patients, primarily African American (83%, n = 48) and female (88%, n = 51). Compared to HS+/COVID+ patients, HS−/COVID+ patients were significantly more likely to have cardiovascular disease (51% vs. 24%; p = 0.0029) and be pregnant (23% vs. 4%; p = 0.0093). HS+/COVID+ and HS−/COVID+ patients did not vary significantly in vaccination rate at time of COVID-19 diagnosis (6% vs. 5%; p = 0.78). HS−/COVID+ patients were significantly more likely to have COVID-19 complications (35% vs. 7%; p = 0.001) and receive COVID-19 treatment (37% vs. 7%; p = 0.0001) when compared to HS+/COVID+ patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the growing evidence that having HS itself may not be a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes.