Dermatology

 

It’s time to address diagnostic delays and alleviate the burden of HS

 

What is HS?

The burden of HS

Do you know how HS impacts your patients?

Take a closer look at the pain and suffering caused by HS in the Unbearable Home: a normal looking house from the outside, but a prison of pain and suffering inside. 

 

The Unbearable Home has been co-created with people living with HS. It provides real insights into their daily life and demonstrates how even the smallest of tasks can be a huge challenge when living with HS. 

 

Walk through their home to realise what it is like to have your home comforts stripped away; from relaxing on your favourite chair, getting a good night’s sleep, or enjoying a refreshing shower. 

 

Can we let this continue?

 

The challenges faced by patients with HS: 
HS Burden physical discomfort

Physical discomfort

Painful lesions and abscesses can cause constant discomfort for patients. They can also limit patients’ ability to engage in everyday activities, such as walking, sitting down, or exercising, affecting their overall quality of life.1,2

HS Burden interpersonal impact

Psychological effects

Depression and anxiety are common in HS. Patients have a significantly increased risk of completed suicide compared with the general population.3 

The visible and sometimes malodorous nature of HS lesions can also lead to embarrassment and social withdrawal.1,4

HS Burden psychological effects

Interpersonal impact

The physical symptoms and emotional toll of HS can strain relationships, and patients may find themselves feeling increasingly isolated.1,2 Frequent medical appointments and the need for time off during 

flare-ups can impact a patient’s professional life and even lead to unemployment.1,4,5

“What happens is the pain increases and then you get to the point where it’s the most unbearable thing you could imagine”1

Comorbidities can compound the burden of HS6

Chronic inflammation, as well as the risk factors for HS, can predispose patients to multiple systemic comorbidities.7,8 These include inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and a small increased risk of some cancers.8,9

 

Comorbidities must be identified early and treated appropriately to avoid adding a significant burden to patients and society.8 This means that multidisciplinary care in HS is vital.6,8

Can we let this continue?

HS is an incurable, progressive disease. With the burden of HS being so significant for many patients, a timely diagnosis and appropriate management are critical to help optimise outcomes and prevent years of worry and self-blame;10,11, 12 7.3 years, on average, to be exact.9, 13

 

The physical symptoms of HS can be managed with pharmaceutical treatments and surgery if necessary. Some patients may also benefit from lifestyle changes to ease their symptoms.10

The management of HS for your patients should be individualised, and based on the subjective impact and severity (Hurley stage) of the disease.11

Our campaign

Working together with people from around the world who are living with HS, UCB has developed a series of striking images and videos that paint a picture of what can be hard to put into words: the reality of life with HS. 

 

From sitting down to taking a shower, these eye-catching materials help visualise what it’s like to live with the physical discomfort and pain that HS brings, every day.

The chair_Image 2.jpg

The chair

Because for patients with HS, sitting down can feel like a thousand needles piercing them.

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The bed

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The desk

The shower_image 5.jpeg

The shower

But it’s not only pain and discomfort that patients with HS have to grapple with. A timely diagnosis and a better understanding of the underlying cause of HS could prevent years of worry and self-blame.12

 

7.3 years, on average, to be exact.9,13

Find out more about our commitment to improving HS care
UCB’s Under the skin podcast series logo
Under the Skin

HS affects all aspects of a patient’s life. Listen to the latest episode of ‘Under the Skin’ , and find out more about what you can do to alleviate this burden

Listen now
The HIDRACENSUS 7.3 programme logo
HIDRACENSUS 7.3

Learn more about our ongoing expert-led initiative that aims to enhance the standard of care for patients living with HS across Europe

Read more
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HS Learning Hub

From bench to bedside, follow the story of HS through our educational curriculum

Access now
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HS Resources

Access a range of practical and educational resources (for both you and your patients) that aim to help you optimise the management of HS

Access now
References

 

  1. Howells L, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2021;185:921–34.
  2. Huang CM, Kirchhof MG. J Cutan Med Surg. 2021;25:591–7.
  3. Thorlacius L, et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138:52–7.
  4. Goldburg SR, et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82:1045–58.
  5. Gisondi P, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37(Suppl 7):6–14.
  6. Chiricozzi A, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019:33(Suppl 6):15–20.
  7. Touhouche AT, et al. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2020;6:164–8.
  8. Tzellos T, Zouboulis CC. Exp Dermatol. 2022;31(Suppl 1):29–32.
  9. Nguyen TV, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35:50–61.
  10. Sayed CJ, et al. Obstet Gynecol. 2021;137:731–46.
  11. Zouboulis CC, et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2015;29:619–44.
  12. Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation. HS causes. https://www.hs-foundation.org/hs-causes. Accessed June 2024.
  13. Barmatz S, et al. Dermatology. 2022;238:772–84.

EU-DA-2300369

 

Date of preparation:  June 2024