title: Clinical Features and Patient Outcomes of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the high burden of disease associated with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), epidemiologic data are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to review demographic features and clinical findings in 80 HS patients from 2 referral centres in Ontario, Canada, from October 2013 to September 2014, and to assess for factors that are associated with more advanced disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicentre cross-sectional study. The data on demographic and clinical features were obtained by questionnaires and chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 80 patients (67.5% females), percentages of patients in Hurley stages I, II, and III were 15.4%, 55.8%, and 28.9%, respectively. Most patients were not diagnosed for more than 1 year (70.1%). Patients with more severe disease were more likely to be females and to have a greater number of lesions and were less likely to be diagnosed initially by a dermatologist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study documents the common demographic and clinical features of HS to optimize resource allocation and patient outcomes.
authors: Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors: Whan B
authors: WB
authors: Kim
authors: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Wound Healing Clinic, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
authors: R Gary
authors: RG
authors: Sibbald
authors: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors: Howard
authors: H
authors: Hu
authors: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors: Morteza
authors: M
authors: Bashash
authors: Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Niloofar
authors: N
authors: Anooshirvani
authors: Wound Healing Clinic, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Coutts
authors: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada afsaneh.alavi@mail.utoronto.ca.
authors: Afsaneh
authors: A
authors: Alavi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017497:Hidradenitis Suppurativa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Canada; acne inversa; demographic; epidemiology; hidradenitis suppurativa