A Comparison of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Characteristics Among Israeli Arabs and Jews: Analysis of Two Cohorts

Jen Barak Levitt, Department of Dermatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Shira Barmatz, Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Shira Fisch-Gilad, Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel.
Yossef H. Taieb, Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel.
Adam Dalal, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, Department of Dermatology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Khashayar Afshari, Department of Dermatology, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Nazgol Haddadi, Department of Dermatology, UMASS Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Dana Tzur Bitan, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel, Shalvata Mental Health Center, Hod Hasharon, Israel.
Arnon Dov Cohen, Department of Research and Information, Chief Physician Office, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel, Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Daniel Mimouni, Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Emmilia Hodak, Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Shany Sherman, Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva, Israel, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease involving apocrine gland-bearing regions. There is an under-representation of non-Caucasians in epidemiologic studies of HS. The characteristics of HS in Israeli Arabs have not yet been studied. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the demographic and clinical profile of HS in the Israeli Arab population. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in two cohorts of patients with HS in Israel. The patients were derived from the database of a large health management organization (n=4191, 639 Arabs; population-based) and a major tertiary medical center (n=372, 49 Arabs). Demographic and clinical data were compared between ethnic groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of HS in Israeli Arabs was found to be 0.5%, fivefold higher than in Jews. Arab patients were younger (35.3 vs. 40.5 years, P < 0.001) and mostly male (52% vs. 35.7%, P < 0.001), with lower rates of co-morbidities, including smoking (40.8% vs. 55.7%, P < 0.001), hyperlipidemia, and depression as well as a higher rate of dissecting cellulitis (10.2% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.008). HS was more severe in Arabs, but of shorter duration, with mainly axillary involvement (79.6% vs. 57.9%, P = 0.004). Treatment with hormones was more common in Jews, and with biologic agents in Arabs. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a different phenotype of HS in Arabs, warranting further study.

First Page

283

Last Page

288

Publication Date

5-1-2024

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