Characterization of comorbidity heterogeneity among 13,667 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder characterized by recurrent abscesses in the groin and flexural areas. HS is associated with a wide range of comorbidities that complicate the disease course. Although these comorbidities have been well described, it remains unclear how these comorbidities coassociate and whether comorbidity profiles affect disease trajectory. In addition, it is unknown how comorbidity associations are modulated by race and sex. In this comprehensive analysis of 77 million patients in a large US population–based cohort, we examined coassociation patterns among HS comorbidities and identified clinically relevant phenotypic subtypes within HS. We demonstrated that these subtypes not only differed among races, but also influenced clinical outcomes as measured by HS-related emergency department visits and cellulitis. Taken together, our findings provide key insights that elucidate the unique disease trajectories experienced by patients with HS and equip clinicians with a framework for risk stratification and improved targeted care in HS.