Evaluation of diagnostic delay in hidradenitis suppurativa

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a disease that has a great impact on quality of life. Early treatment is essential to control outbreaks and reduce complications. However, diagnostic delay is a global and multifactorial problem.

OBJECTIVES: Identify the delay in diagnosis and the reasons related to it in patients with HS.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Observational, cross-sectional study. Electronic surveys were sent to patients diagnosed with HS from the Dermatology department of Clinica Universitaria Reina Fabiola. The variables were divided into sociodemographic, socioeconomic, pathology-related, and reasons for

diagnostic delay. The statistical analysis was carried out according to the distribution and type of variables. P<0.05 was shown to be statistically significant.

RESULTS: The population sample consisted of 82 surveys. The patients had a median age of 34 years and 72% of the population were female. The median age at onset of symptoms was 19 years and at the time of diagnosis was 30 years. The median diagnostic delay time was 5 years with a range of 1 to 13 years. We found a significant statistical relationship between the diagnostic delay with age and the number of previous consultations (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The diagnostic delay of HS presented a median of 5 years, mainly related to the age of the patients and the need for several prior consultations to confirm the diagnosis.