Environmental and Social Factors Linked to Hidradenitis Suppurativa Risk

Research published in a letter in JAMA Dermatology indicates that several environmental and social factors may serve as independent predictors for the development of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The findings highlight the influence of place-based variables on the epidemiology of the inflammatory skin condition.

According to the research, extreme heat, air pollution, obesity, and Black race are likely independent environmental and social predictors of developing the condition.

The study utilized patient address data collected from all academic health systems in Boston to analyze the distribution of the disease. This spatial analysis revealed that cases of hidradenitis suppurativa were not evenly distributed across the city.

Researchers identified significant spatial clustering, resulting in the discovery of HS hot spots located specifically in south and central Boston.

Using patient address data from all academic Boston health systems, we observed significant spatial clustering with HS hot spots in south and central Boston

JAMA Dermatology

The researchers noted that the high explanatory power of their models supports the conclusion that place-based factors play a role in how HS is distributed within a population. This evidence aligns with emerging data suggesting that air pollution and extreme heat act as risk factors for inflammatory responses.

The identification of these predictors suggests that the intersection of biological factors, such as obesity and race, and environmental stressors, such as pollution and temperature, may contribute to the prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa in specific geographic areas.