Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Balangoda, Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, debilitating skin disease of the hair follicles in the apocrine gland-bearing areas of the body. The global HS prevalence has been reported in the range of 0.00033-4.1%. It is reportedly rarer in Asia.

METHODS

The study aimed to establish the prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in a Sri Lankan hospital setting. An explorative, cross-sectional, descriptive study was done on a sample of accompanying healthy persons to patients at Base Hospital, Balangoda, Sri Lanka. The study was conducted over a 6-month period (November 1st, 2022, to April 30th, 2023) and was a part of the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA) initiative. The data were collected using validated self-administered questionnaire. When the questionnaire indicated HS (screen-positive), the study participant was referred to the consultant dermatologist, who examined the individual and confirmed the final diagnosis based on three obligatory diagnostic criteria (i.e., typical lesion, typical topography, and the chronicity and recurrence).

RESULTS

Of 993 participants, the prevalence of HS was 0.2 (95% confidence interval 0.06%-0.73%). The difference in median age between two groups (i.e., individuals with HS - positive group and the control group) was statistically significant (p = 0.01802). The HS group was relatively younger with a median age of 26.5 (23.8-29.3) years, while that of the control group was 54.0 (48.0-59.0).

CONCLUSION

Hidradenitis suppurativa is rare in Sri Lanka as in other Asia-pacific countries.