Objective:

To investigate the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and the risk of being diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).

Approach:

• Study Design: Analysis of data from 65,766 dermatology patients in the San Francisco Bay Area between August 2019 and May 2024.
• Population: Among the patients, 485 were newly diagnosed with HS.
• SES Grouping: Neighborhoods were categorized into five SES quintiles, with Q1 as the lowest and Q5 as the highest.
• Statistical Analysis: Adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity to assess the risk of HS diagnosis across SES levels.

Key Findings:

• Patients in Q1 neighborhoods had 3.32 times the risk of HS diagnosis compared to those in Q5.
• The risk decreased with increasing SES: 2.25 in Q2, 1.97 in Q3, and 1.44 in Q4 compared to Q5.
• Patients with HS were younger on average (35.6 years) and more likely to be female (72.8%), Black (19.2%), or Hispanic (17.3%).
• Obesity explained 35% of the increased risk in Q1 neighborhoods, while smoking had a weaker, nonsignificant effect.
• Increased HS risk was observed across racial and ethnic groups, with Hispanic patients in Q1 neighborhoods having 7.62 times the risk compared to Q5.

Interpretation:

Limitations:

• The study design does not prove causality.
• Findings are based on a single academic health system in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Conclusion:

Sources:

• JAMA Dermatology