Comparative Overall Comorbidity Burden Among Patients With Hidradenitis Suppurativa

ImportanceThe overall comorbidity burden among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has not been systematically evaluated. ObjectivesTo investigate the standardized overall comorbidity burden among patients with HS and to compare it with the comorbidity burden in patients with psoriasis and a control group. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 5306 patients with HS, 14037 patients with psoriasis, and 1733810 controls identified using electronic health records data from October 1, 2013, through October 1, 2018. Main Outcome and MeasureThe primary outcome was the mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score. ResultsEach matched cohort had 3818 patients (2789 women and 1029 men; mean [SD] age, 45.7 [15.0]). Before matching, the overall mean (SD) CCI score was highest among the psoriasis cohort (2.33 [3.13]), followed by the HS cohort (1.80 [2.79]) and control cohort (1.26 [2.35]). In matched analyses, the overall mean (SD) CCI score was highest among the HS cohort (1.95 [2.96]), followed by the psoriasis cohort (1.47 [2.43]; P<.001) and control cohort (0.95 [1.99]; P<.001) patients. A total of 516 patients with HS (13.5%) had an overall mean CCI score of 5 or greater. Mean CCI score was highest for patients with HS across all sex, race, and age groups. The most common comorbidities among patients with HS were chronic pulmonary disease (1540 [40.3%]), diabetes with chronic complications (365 [9.6%]), diabetes without chronic complications (927 [24.3%]), and mild liver disease (455 [11.9%]). Patients with HS with a CCI score of 5 or greater had 4.97 (95% CI, 1.49-16.63) times the adjusted risk of 5-year mortality compared with patients with HS with a CCI score of zero. Conclusions and RelevancePatients with HS have a higher overall comorbidity burden compared with patients with psoriasis and a control group. A significant proportion of patients with HS have CCI scores of 5 or greater, which are associated with increased mortality. This degree of comorbidity burden may warrant multidisciplinary implementation of routine screening measures.