Patient perceptions of common invasive therapies in hidradenitis suppurativa: A survey-based analysis

Summary: Abstract Body: Background: A variety of invasive treatment options are available for managing moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). However, patients' perceptions of these treatments are not well-studied. This study aims to evaluate patient’s perception of common invasive therapies for HS. Methods: A survey was distributed to adult HS patients from a specialized HS clinic between January and August of 2023. Patient demographics were collected, and a 5-point likert scale was used to assess respondents’ level of agreement with the statement, “I feel this treatment is good for my skin condition”. Results: Of the 62 patients who completed the survey, the median age was 35.5 years (IQR: 30.0-43.0). The majority were female (70.5%), White (64.5%), had Hurley stage II/III disease (88.7%), and 56.4% had prior exposure to biological therapy for their HS. The percentage of patients who agreed or strongly agreed versus disagreed or strongly disagreed were respectively: 30.6% vs. 9.1% for biologics, 27.4% vs. 1.9% for unroofing procedures; 22.6% vs. 5.6% for excision surgeries; 20.9% vs. 19.2% incision and drainage (I&D),and 23% vs. 9.5% for intralesional corticosteroid injections (ILC). The percentage of uncertain patients ranged from 23% (I&D) to 47.2% (ILC). Conclusion: In our study, biological therapies were perceived more favorably compared to other invasive options. However, significant patient hesitancy and uncertainty remains. Addressing these concerns through targeted patient education and support may enhance the acceptance and utilization of these therapies, potentially leading to improved management outcomes for patients with moderate to severe HS. Bruna Wafae¹, Maneli Doroudian Tehrani¹, Corey Snyder¹, Alexa Kimball¹, Martina Porter¹ 1. Dermatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research