Perception and Knowledge of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Greece: A Cross-Sectional Study of 1301 Individuals

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurutiva (HS) is a chronic auto-inflammatory disease with recurrent painful deep-seated nodules. AIMS: The aim of this study was to qualitatively assess patients’ perception for HS. METHODS: A descriptive two-step questionnaire survey was conducted from January 2017 to December 2018. The survey was performed through self-assessed, online, standardized questionnaires. Clinico-epidemiological characteristics, medical history, comorbidities, personal perceptions and the impact of the disease on participants’ professional and everyday life were recorded. RESULTS: A total number of 1301 Greek people completed the questionnaire. Of them, 676 (52%) reported symptoms resembling HS, whereas 206 (16%) reported that have been officially diagnosed with HS. The mean age of the study group was 39.2 ± 11.3 years. More than half of the diagnosed patients (n = 110, 53.3%) reported that they developed their first symptoms between 12 and 25 years of age. Of the diagnosed patients (n = 206), the majority (n = 140, 68.0%) were females and active smokers (n = 124, 60.1%). Seventy-nine (n = 79, 38.3%) patients reported a positive family history for HS. Ninety-nine (n = 99, 48.1%) patients reported that HS has a negative effect on their social life, 95 (46.1%) on personal life, 115 (55.8%) on sexual life, 163 (79.1%) on their mental health and 128 (62.1%) on their overall quality of life. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that HS seems to be an underteated, time-consuming and cost-intensive disease.