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Incidence of hidradenitis suppurativa among tobacco smokers: a population‐based retrospective analysis in the U.S.A.
Author(s) -
Garg A.,
Papagermanos V.,
Midura M.,
Strunk A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.16391
Subject(s) - hidradenitis suppurativa , medicine , incidence (geometry) , dermatology , apocrine , disease , population , acne , environmental health , pathology , physics , optics
Summary Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent, and painful disease in which there is inflammation in areas of the apocrine sweat glands. These glands are found mainly in the armpits and groins. Within HS there may be a blockage of the hair follicles. This causes a mixture of boil‐like lumps, areas leaking pus, and scarring. Despite a common belief that tobacco smoking increases the risk of developing the disease, the evidence linking the two is controversial. This study is important because it includes a very large sample of people to compare rates of HS in smokers and non‐smokers. Using healthcare data, the researchers identified 3 924 310 tobacco smokers and 8 027 790 non‐smokers in the USA and found that the overall incidence of HS was 0.20% among smokers and 0.11% among non‐smokers. Incidence of HS was greatest among smokers who were aged 30–39 years (0.35%), women (0.28%), African Americans (0.46%), and those with BMI ≥ 30. In conclusion, incidence of HS appears to be doubled among tobacco smokers. These findings may support evidence‐based counselling to help people at risk of HS to quit smoking.