Hidradenitis suppurativa: Treatment by specialist, with biologics dictate satisfaction

Among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, treatment satisfaction is high for those who are treated by a dermatologist and receive a biologic medication, a study has found.

Researchers assessed the association between treatment satisfaction and clinical and treatment-related characteristics in hidradenitis suppurativa. They used data from a cross-sectional global survey of 1,418 patients from 27 institutions, mainly hidradenitis suppurativa referral centres, across 14 different countries.

Most of the patients were women (85 percent) and European (55 percent) or North American (38 percent). The primary outcome of patients’ self-reported overall satisfaction with their current treatment was rated on a 5-point scale from “very dissatisfied” to “very satisfied.” Overall, 45 percent of the population reported being either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their current medical treatment.

Multivariable regression analysis showed that the odds of being satisfied with current treatment were higher among patients primarily treated by a dermatologist than among those treated by other physicians (odds ratio [OR], 1.99, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.62–2.44; p<0.001).

Furthermore, treatment with biologics was associated with higher treatment satisfaction compared with receipt of nonbiologic systemic medications (OR, 2.36, 95 percent CI, 1.74–3.19; p<0.001).

Meanwhile, factors associated with lower treatment satisfaction were smoking (active vs never: OR, 0.78, 95 percent CI, 0.62–0.99), depression (OR 0.69, 95 percent CI, 0.54–0.87), increasing number of comorbidities (per comorbidity: OR, 0.88, 95 percent CI, 0.81–0.96), and increasing flare frequency.

The findings support shared decision making when it comes to improving treatment outcomes for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.