A prevalence estimate of 0.4% has been derived from studies conducted in the US, Europe, and Australia.[7]Jfri A, Nassim D, O'Brien E, et al. Prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. JAMA Dermatol. 2021 Aug 1;157(8):924-31.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34037678?tool=bestpractice.com
Studies conducted in the clinical setting suggested a higher pooled prevalence of HS than population-based studies (1.7% vs. 0.3%, respectively).
HS occurs more commonly in females (female to male ratio of approximately 3:1).[8]Ingram JR, Jenkins-Jones S, Knipe DW, et al. Population-based clinical practice research datalink study using algorithm modelling to identify the true burden of hidradenitis suppurativa. Br J Dermatol. 2018 Apr;178(4):917-24.
https://www.doi.org/10.1111/bjd.16101
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29094346?tool=bestpractice.com
[9]Garg A, Kirby JS, Lavian J, et al. Sex- and age-adjusted population analysis of prevalence estimates for hidradenitis suppurativa in the United States. JAMA Dermatol. 2017 Aug 1;153(8):760-64.
https://www.doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.0201
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28492923?tool=bestpractice.com
[10]Hallock KK, Mizerak MR, Dempsey A, et al. Differences between children and adults with hidradenitis suppurativa. JAMA Dermatol. 2021 Sep 1;157(9):1095-1101.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34379074?tool=bestpractice.com
Few studies have assessed racial predilection for HS.[11]Sachdeva M, Shah M, Alavi A. Race-specific prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa. J Cutan Med Surg. 2021 Mar-Apr;25(2):177-87.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33174482?tool=bestpractice.com
[12]Price KN, Hsiao JL, Shi VY. Race and ethnicity gaps in global hidradenitis suppurativa clinical trials. Dermatology. 2021;237(1):97-102.
https://www.doi.org/10.1159/000504911
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31865334?tool=bestpractice.com
[13]Zouboulis CC, Goyal M, Byrd AS. Hidradenitis suppurativa in skin of colour. Exp Dermatol. 2021 Jun;30(suppl 1):27-30.
https://www.doi.org/10.1111/exd.14341
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34085333?tool=bestpractice.com
There is, however, growing evidence to suggest that incidence and prevalence is greater among African-American than white people.[14]Garg A, Lavian J, Lin G, et al. Incidence of hidradenitis suppurativa in the United States: a sex- and age-adjusted population analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jul;77(1):118-22.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28285782?tool=bestpractice.com
[15]Vlassova N, Kuhn D, Okoye GA. Hidradenitis suppurativa disproportionately affects African Americans: a single-center retrospective analysis. Acta Derm Venereol. 2015 Nov;95(8):990-1.
https://www.doi.org/10.2340/00015555-2176
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26073615?tool=bestpractice.com
[16]Garg A, Wertenteil S, Baltz R, et al. Prevalence estimates for hidradenitis suppurativa among children and adolescents in the United States: a gender- and age-adjusted population analysis. J Invest Dermatol. 2018 Oct;138(10):2152-6.
https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2018.04.001
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29660301?tool=bestpractice.com
[17]Vaidya T, Vangipuram R, Alikhan A. Examining the race-specific prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa at a large academic center; results from a retrospective chart review. Dermatol Online J. 2017 Jun 15;23(6).
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9xc0n0z1#article_main
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28633744?tool=bestpractice.com
Diagnosis is most common at ages 18 to 29 years.[14]Garg A, Lavian J, Lin G, et al. Incidence of hidradenitis suppurativa in the United States: a sex- and age-adjusted population analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jul;77(1):118-22.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28285782?tool=bestpractice.com
However, delays from disease onset to diagnosis may be as much as 7 years, indicating that onset may occur soon after puberty in some patients.[18]Saunte DM, Boer J, Stratigos A, et al. Diagnostic delay in hidradenitis suppurativa is a global problem. Br J Dermatol. 2015 Dec;173(6):1546-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26198191?tool=bestpractice.com