Characterizing Disease Severity, Comorbidities, and Treatment Plans in Pediatric Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients With and Without Obesity: A Cohort and Cross‐Sectional Analysis
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory condition. While obesity is linked to increased HS severity in adults, data on its impact in pediatric HS remain limited. This study investigates the relationships between obesity, HS severity, HS-related comorbidities, and therapeutic management in pediatric patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort analysis on patients diagnosed with HS before 18 years of age. Data were collected on disease severity, comorbidity development, and treatments. Trends were compared between HS patients with and without obesity and with healthy controls for comorbidity development. RESULTS: There was no difference in disease severity using Hurley staging between patients with and without obesity (p = 0.679). Patients with obesity were more likely to be prescribed biologics (p = 0.012), but not other treatments. The risk of developing dyslipidemia, anxiety, depression, and thyroid disease was elevated in pediatric HS patients, even after controlling for BMI (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, obesity was not associated with HS disease severity in children. However, children with obesity were more likely to be prescribed biologics. HS may independently increase the risk of dyslipidemia, anxiety, depression, and thyroid disease.
Source: Pediatric Dermatology
DOI: 10.1111/pde.15983
Institution: Mayo Clinic
Language: English
Subfield: Dermatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1649669867, G9000045335
OpenAlex ID: W4410410040