Human papillomavirus infection is associated with increased risk of new-onset hidradenitis suppurativa: A population-based cohort study.

Abstract

The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) remains unclear, although emerging research suggests a link between infectious agents and inflammatory skin diseases. The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HS development, however, has not been studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of incident HS in patients with HPV infection. Using the TriNetX research network, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with HPV and matched controls. Propensity score matching adjusted for variables like age, sex (male/female), race, body mass index, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors. The primary outcome was new-onset HS, analyzed across demographic and clinical factors. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess the risk. After matching, both the HPV and control cohorts included 582,007 patients. HPV-infected individuals had a significantly higher risk of developing HS (hazard ratio: 1.356, 95% confidence interva: 1.290-1.427). This increased risk was consistent across various demographic and clinical groups. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Retrospective cohort design. HPV infection is linked to a higher risk of HS, suggesting a potential association. Further research is required to validate these results and assess their impact in different populations and clinical settings, as well as also elucidate the potential impact of other infections involved in the pathogenesis of HS.