title: Prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a follicular occlusion disorder occurring in apocrine-rich regions of the skin. Estimates of the prevalence of this disorder have not been population-based.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to provide population-based information on the prevalence of HS in Olmsted County, Minnesota, as of January 1, 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Rochester Epidemiology Project, a unique infrastructure that combines and makes accessible all medical records in Olmsted County since the 1960s, was used to collect population-based data on the prevalence of HS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 178 confirmed cases of HS that included 135 females and 43 males, and estimated the total sex- and age-adjusted prevalence in Olmsted County to be 127.8 per 100,000 or 0.13%. The total prevalence was significantly higher among women than men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study represents the first population-based investigation on the prevalence of HS. In this population-based cohort, HS was less prevalent than suggested by previous reports.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., USA.
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shahi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alikhan
authors.forename: Benjamin G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult