Sign in to download the Issue in PDF format.
1First Department of Dermatology and Venereology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
2Department of International and European Studies, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece
3Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
A Tsentemeidou
, E Sotiriou, K Bakirtzi, I Papadimitriou, N Kougkas, A Lallas, E Vakirlis
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) principally affects women of childbearing age, who face gender-specific challenges and have lower life-quality than men. HS also seems to impact desire for procreation. Objective: To investigate various quality-of-life endpoints in women of childbearing age with HS. Study design: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed at a university dermatology department. Eighteen yes/no and one open-ended questions explored impact of HS on social life, sexual life, family planning, working life and healthcare-backed support. A sensitivity analysis was performed for women under 25, who are significantly less likely to be married/in a permanent relationship in Greece, as this could act as a confounding factor regarding family planning. Results: Ninety-six women were included. Most women (80.8%) carry a stigma because of HS, which also affects their choice of clothes and social relationships. Sexual impairment affects 73.1% of women. One third of women wants less or no children because of HS, 67.7% worry about its impact on pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum, and 84.6% worry about the impact of HS treatment on fertility and their babies’ health. Almost 43% fear losing their job because of HS, 34.4% are discriminated against at work and 33.3% state HS has hindered their career. Most women are not adequately informed about their disease or available support groups/material and 41.7% have not received good enough care through pregnancy/postpartum. Conclusions: Life-quality endpoints should be meticulously screened in women. Multidisciplinary-led treatment should be offered during pregnancy and the postpartum.
Cite this article as: Tsentemeidou A, Sotiriou E, Bakirtzi K, Papadimitriou I, Chatzi-Sotiriou T, Panagopoulou A, Kougkas N, Lallas A, Vakirlis E. Quality-of-Life Endpoints in Women of Childbearing Age with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Tertiary-Care-Centre-Based Study. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2023;34(4):469-78
Article Submitted: 11 Jan 2023; Revised Form: 19 Mar 2023; Article Accepted: 02 Apr 2023; Available Online: 22 Aug 2023
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
©2023 The Author(s).
https://doi.org/10.31138/mjr.220823.qoe