Hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa: Challenges in patient care and addressing patient needs
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes painful lumps, abscesses and scarring, mainly in skin folds. It can have a major impact on daily life, but the disease varies greatly from person to person. HS is also often diagnosed only years after the first symptoms appear. The thesis of Nicole Koerts examines how these differences between patients can be better understood and how care and research can be adapted accordingly.
The studies show that HS is not one uniform disease. Patients differ in their skin symptoms, disease severity, other health problems and the way they experience their symptoms. HS also occurs in people aged 60 years and older. In this group, the disease has partly different characteristics and is more severe on average.
The thesis also shows that treatments and clinical trials do not always achieve the desired results. Adding metformin to doxycycline did not provide additional improvement in skin symptoms, although beneficial effects on factors such as weight and blood sugar were seen. Research into unsuccessful clinical trials further showed the importance of selecting the right patients and using appropriate measures of treatment effect.
In addition, about one quarter of the people with HS studied had difficulty understanding and using health information. Commonly used questionnaires also do not always measure what matters most to patients.
The thesis therefore highlights the importance of earlier recognition, clear and accessible information, better outcome measures, and more personalized care and research.