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Multicenter Study
. 2025;241(Suppl. 1):87-91.
doi: 10.1159/000540156. Epub 2025 Jul 7.

Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Oman

Waleed Al Maharbi, Waleed Al Maharbi  1 , Pernille Lindsø Andersen  2   3   4 , Dorra Bouazzi  2   3   5 , Cecilia E Medianfar  2   3 , Robin Christensen  5   6   7 , Gregor B E Jemec  2   3
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Prevalence of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Oman

Waleed Al Maharbi et al. Dermatology. 2025.

Abstract

<p>Introduction: This study, conducted as part of the Global Hidradenitis Suppurativa Atlas (GHiSA) initiative, aimed to ascertain the prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in Oman and to assess its demographic distribution, adhering to standardized methodology for consistency across participating sites.

Methods: A multicenter approach was undertaken, encompassing primary care within a general practice clinic, along with two secondary surgical clinics at Sumail Hospital and Seeb polyclinic in Oman. Informed written and oral consent were diligently obtained from study participants. Data collection involved the translation of the questionnaire into Arabic and meticulous examination conducted by qualified physicians. Recruitment transpired from July 2022 to September 2022, targeting healthy adults accompanying patients, with rigorous adherence to predefined exclusion criteria.

Results: Among the 500 initially selected participants, 484 questionnaires were subjected to rigorous analysis, following the exclusion of 16 due to data incompleteness. The estimated prevalence of HS in Oman was found to be 2.1% (95% CI: 1.1-3.8%), with a pronounced predilection toward the female demographic. Notably, the median age of participants with HS was significantly lower than that of their healthy counterparts. Regional distribution analysis revealed the axillary region as the most commonly affected site for both genders. The questionnaire-based diagnostic approach exhibited a sensitivity of 1.00 and a specificity of 0.73, indicating its efficacy in HS diagnosis.

Conclusion: This study yields critical insights into the epidemiology of HS in Oman, conclusively establishing a prevalence rate of 2.1%. The high sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire-based diagnostic tool emphasize its clinical utility. These findings collectively emphasize the imperative for comprehensive education and awareness campaigns among healthcare professionals to foster early detection and tailored intervention strategies. To further enrich our understanding of HS pathophysiology and optimize patient management, larger prospective investigations are warranted. </p>.

Keywords: Acne inversa; Hidradenitis suppurativa; Omani adults; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

W.A.M. has no conflicts of interest to declare. P.L.A. received financial support for her PhD project from the LEO Foundation (grant no.: LF18002) from Naestved, Slagelse, and Ringsted Hospitals’ Research Fund and a travel grant from AbbVie for the EADV Congress 2022. G.B.E.J. has received honoraria from AbbVie, ChemoCentryx, Coloplast, Incyte, InflaRx, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, and UCB for participation on advisory boards; grants from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, InflaRx, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Regeneron, and Sanofi, for participation as an investigator; and speaker honoraria from AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Galderma, and MSD. He has also received unrestricted departmental grants from AbbVie, Leo Pharma, and Novartis. D.B. declares that UCB Nordic has paid for EADV 2022 and EADV 2023 congress participation and received teaching honoraria from UCB Nordic. C.E.M. has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Prototypical STARD diagram to report flow of participants through the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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