The Impact of Racial Differences on Treatment Strategies in Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Retrospective Review
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic disease that causes inflammatory lesions typically found in the axillary, inguinal, and perineal regions that can result in permanent scarring, fibrosis, and sinus tract formation. Although HS is more prevalent in patients with skin of color, research in HS has historically been performed in European and White populations. We aimed to explore management differences in skin of color HS patients compared to White patients.
METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional retrospective review of HS-associated outpatient encounters in the Medical University of South Carolina’s Research Data Warehouse from 1/2017–12/2020. We performed descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses.
RESULTS: We found that Black HS patients were more likely to receive metformin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during HS-associated visits. We also found that Black patients were less likely to see dermatology and primary care and more likely to see surgery for their HS-associated visits. Lastly, skin of color HS patients were more likely to have a complex excision (P<0.001).
DISCUSSION: We found differences in the medical and procedural care provided to Black HS patients compared to White patients. A limitation of our study is the lack of information concerning efficacy of treatment interventions and clinical outcomes. Future studies should include a representative population of HS patients with a higher proportion of skin of…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
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