Quality of Life in Cohabitants of Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Cross-sectional Study.

Carmen Ramos-Alejos-Pita,Salvador Arias-Santiago,Alejandro Molina-Leyva

doi:10.3390/ijerph17166000

Abstract

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that impairs patients’ physical and mental health. However, few studies have considered the consequences of HS on cohabitants. The aims of this study were to explore the impact of HS on the quality of life (QOL) of cohabitants and to assess potentially associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted and patients with HS and their cohabitants were invited to participate. Validated questionnaires were used to measure QOL, anxiety and depression, type D personality and sexual dysfunction. The clinical variables of patients and the demographic characteristics of cohabitants were also collected. Twenty-seven patients and 27 cohabitants were included for analysis. Patients and cohabitants presented significant QOL impairment. A direct association was found between the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Familiar Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI). DLQI scores were associated with the presence of negative affectivity, a trait typical of type D personality, as well as with cohabitants’ anxiety. FDLQI scores were associated with cohabitant anxiety and patient depression. Hidradenitis suppurativa damages quality of life in patients and cohabitants. Identifying potential psychological factors could help us to recognize at-risk patients and apply personalized treatments for them and their environment.

Highlights

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a genetically heterogeneous chronic inflammatory skin disease with a reported prevalence of about 1%
Few studies have considered the consequences of HS on the people who live with patients. We argue that this disease could have a negative effect on cohabitants’ mental health because
We have evaluated psychological and personality factors potentially related to disease adaptation and to quality of life

Summary

Introduction

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a genetically heterogeneous chronic inflammatory skin disease with a reported prevalence of about 1%. It has been related to higher levels of depression and anxiety, worse quality of life, sexual dysfunction and a higher suicide risk [3,4,9,10,11] it has direct consequences on social relationships and professional careers, such as higher absenteeism and unemployment levels [3,4]. For all these reasons, HS is a stigmatizing and disabling disease

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