Abstract / Summary
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder, closely linked to metabolic syndrome. However, it remains unclear whether systemic inflammation caused by hidradenitis suppurativa leads to manifestations of metabolic syndrome or whether the level of inflammation induced by metabolic syndrome initiates hidradenitis suppurativa. Objective: To examine the association between metabolic syndrome and hidradenitis suppurativa in Erbil City.Materials and methods: This case-control study was conducted between October 2024 and September 2025 and included 66 patients and 132 controls from the Erbil Dermatology Teaching Center and several private dermatology clinics in Erbil City, Iraq. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and lifestyle data from the participants. Body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured, and laboratory investigations, including fasting blood sugar, serum triglycerides, and serum high-density lipoprotein, were performed. Results: Smoking, fast food consumption, and overweight/obesity prevalence were significantly higher among cases than controls (P-value < 0.05). Fasting blood sugar and high-density lipoprotein were significantly higher in cases than in controls (P-value < 0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumference were also significantly higher among cases (P-value < 0.05). The prevalence of hypertension was higher among cases compared to controls, 40.9% and 12.1%, respectively. The same applied to diabetes mellitus, 30.3% and 6.8%, respectively. More than 62% of cases were proven to have metabolic syndrome compared to only 9.8% of controls with a P-value < 0.001.Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was significantly more prevalent among hidradenitis suppurativa cases than in controls, suggesting that early detection and treatment of metabolic abnormalities may improve hidradenitis suppurativa prognosis and necessitate integrated care strategies that address its systemic and dermatological aspects.