Validation of the Real-World Application of the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Quality of Life (HiSQOL) Score to Adults with Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Abstract

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) has unique symptoms and physical features among skin diseases. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) agnostic to specific skin diseases may not fully characterise the influence of HS on quality of life (QoL). A HS-specific PROM is needed to capture the impact of HS on QoL in the real-world setting.

Objective: To validate the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Quality of Life Questionnaire (HiSQOL) as a HS-specific PROM by comparing it to the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in clinical practice.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Adelphi HS Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of physicians and patients conducted in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United States between November, 2020 and April, 2021. Practicing physicians each provided demographic and clinical data for 5-7 consecutively evaluated HS patients aged at least 10 years receiving any treatment for HS, and an additional 3 patients undergoing biologic treatment; only patients aged at least 18 years were included in this study. Patients completed the DLQI and HiSQOL. Construct validity was assessed by Pearson's correlation between DLQI and HiSQOL scores. The HiSQOL item discrimination was assessed by comparing differences in item responses between the highest and lowest 25% of HiSQOL scores. Multivariable linear regressions assessed relationships between individual PROM item responses and the total score of the other PROM.

Results: In total, 677 patients [mean age of 34.3 (11.3) years; female (57.3%, n=388)] completed both the HiSQOL and DLQI. There was strong correlation between HiSQOL and DLQI total scores (Pearson's correlation 0.87 [95% confidence interval: 0.85-0.89, p<0.001]). The HiSQOL items that had the biggest impact on QoL related to "Embarrassment", "Depression" and "Anxiety", items that also had among the lowest relationship to total DLQI score.

Conclusions: The HiSQOL is a valid tool for assessing QoL in HS patients in the real-world setting. Furthermore, the HiSQOL better captures those aspects of HS that have the highest impact on QoL, including depression and anxiety, which are not captured by the DLQI.