Hidradenitis Suppurativa Mail Survey

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Mail Survey

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), also known as "acne inversa," is a chronic dermatologic disease affecting apocrine gland-bearing areas and presenting with symptoms ranging from pustules and inflammatory nodules to draining sinuses, abscesses, and fistulae. The pain and odorous lesions associated with HS contribute to its heightened impact on quality of life in comparison to other diseases; it has been described as "one of the most distressing conditions observed in dermatology." Though it is clear that HS has a significant impact on quality of life, how this manifests remains poorly characterized. The aim of this study is to characterize the quality of life impact of HS and to validate a tool for patients to self-assess the severity of their condition.

Running a comprehensive study and asking patients what challenges they encounter in their daily lives can shed light on the ways in which HS causes quality of life impairment. In this study, the study team aims to identify the following: problems faced by patients with HS, the rate of depression, the rate of stigmatization, the rate of fear of being accepted in society, treatments that patients have tried (and which treatments seem to have worked best), the rate of alternative treatment use, and the correlation of these factors with the severity of disease.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa by a dermatologist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's dermatology clinic.
• Patients 18 years of age or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients younger than 18 years of age
• Any patient who does not have a mailing address on file