PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA: IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv17n58-039Keywords:
Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Anxiety Disorders, Quality of Life, Mental HealthAbstract
Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with recurrent painful lesions, scarring, stigmatization, and major psychosocial burden. Anxiety disorders and clinically significant anxiety symptoms have emerged as relevant comorbidities in this population and appear to contribute substantially to impaired quality of life.
Objective: The main objective of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders and clinically significant anxiety symptoms in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa and to analyze their impact on quality of life. Secondary objectives were to evaluate associations with disease severity, pain, and symptom chronicity; compare findings across study settings and assessment instruments; examine relationships with dermatology-specific and general quality-of-life measures; identify demographic and clinical factors associated with greater psychological burden; and assess the methodological quality and certainty of the available evidence.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, LILACS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Eligible studies included recent clinical investigations evaluating anxiety disorders, anxiety symptoms, or validated anxiety outcomes in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, as well as their relationship with quality of life. Study selection, data extraction, risk-of-bias evaluation, and certainty assessment were structured according to PRISMA principles, with qualitative synthesis prioritized because of methodological heterogeneity.
Results and Discussion: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. The available evidence consistently showed that anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms are common in hidradenitis suppurativa and are strongly associated with poorer quality of life, greater pain burden, higher stigmatization, social limitation, sleep disturbance, and reduced daily functioning. The literature also suggested that psychosocial burden is influenced not only by clinical severity but also by subjective symptom experience, interpersonal stress, and internalized stigma. Although prevalence estimates varied across studies because of differences in design, populations, and assessment methods, the overall direction of the evidence was highly consistent.
Conclusion: Anxiety represents a central component of disease burden in hidradenitis suppurativa and has a clinically meaningful negative impact on quality of life. Routine assessment of psychological distress and patient-reported quality of life should be incorporated into specialist care, and multidisciplinary strategies are needed to improve both dermatologic and mental health outcomes.
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References
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