S Cazzaniga1,2, L Naldi1,3, G Damiani1,4,5, L Atzori6, F Patta6, G Guidarelli7, V Bettoli7. 1. Centro Studi GISED, Bergamo, Italy. 2. Department of Dermatology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. 3. Department of Dermatology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy. 4. Young Dermatologists Italian Network (YDIN), Centro Studi GISED, Bergamo, Italy. 5. Clinical Dermatology, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 6. Department of Medical Science, Section of Dermatology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 7. Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Dermatology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, highly debilitating disease. Few questionnaires have been developed to identify potential HS cases based on simple questions. A visual representation may help in characterising these lesions. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a visually assisted questionnaire for HS detection. METHODS: This was an observational diagnostic study on a series of patients with a first diagnosis of HS and a corresponding series of age and gender-matched controls consecutively observed in two Italian centres. The questionnaire was developed based on a critical appraisal of the relevant literature and on expert consensus. Measures of accuracy and reproducibility were assessed. RESULTS: 57 patients with HS and 57 controls were included in the study (mean age 32.9 ± 12.3 years). Based on at least one affirmative answer to the proposed questionnaire items, the accuracy was 95.6%, with a sensitivity of 98.2% and a specificity of 93.0%. Reproducibility was almost perfect on all the tested items (Cohen's kappa ≥ 0.85). LIMITATIONS: The questionnaire was tested only in experimental conditions. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire could be a useful tool for HS screening in the general population. Further studies are needed to confirm its performance in a real-world setting.
BACKGROUND:Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, highly debilitating disease. Few questionnaires have been developed to identify potential HS cases based on simple questions. A visual representation may help in characterising these lesions. OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a visually assisted questionnaire for HS detection. METHODS: This was an observational diagnostic study on a series of patients with a first diagnosis of HS and a corresponding series of age and gender-matched controls consecutively observed in two Italian centres. The questionnaire was developed based on a critical appraisal of the relevant literature and on expert consensus. Measures of accuracy and reproducibility were assessed. RESULTS: 57 patients with HS and 57 controls were included in the study (mean age 32.9 ± 12.3 years). Based on at least one affirmative answer to the proposed questionnaire items, the accuracy was 95.6%, with a sensitivity of 98.2% and a specificity of 93.0%. Reproducibility was almost perfect on all the tested items (Cohen's kappa ≥ 0.85). LIMITATIONS: The questionnaire was tested only in experimental conditions. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire could be a useful tool for HS screening in the general population. Further studies are needed to confirm its performance in a real-world setting.