Hyperhidrosis and the risk of being treated for skin infections

Abstract

Background

A few studies have described an increased prevalence of skin infections in individuals with hyperhidrosis compared to others. However, it remains uncertain whether hyperhidrosis is an independent risk factor for skin infections.

Objective

To compare the risk of skin infections in individuals with and without hyperhidrosis.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, data on hyperhidrosis were collected from the Danish Blood Donor Study. Blood donors included in 2010–2019 were followed from inclusion until December 2019. Data on redeemed prescriptions against skin infections were collected from the National Prescription Register. The intensity of prescription-use by hyperhidrosis status was assessed in Andersen–Gill models.

Results

Overall, 4,176 (9.6%) of 43,477 blood donors had self-reported hyperhidrosis and 437 (0.34%) of 127,823 blood donors had hospital diagnosed hyperhidrosis. Self-reported hyperhidrosis was associated with the use of antibiotic prescriptions (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.21; 95% confidence interval 1.00–1.45, p = 0.047). Hospital diagnosed hyperhidrosis was associated with the use of antibiotic (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.33; 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.68, p = 0.028) and topical antifungal prescriptions (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.43; 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.97, p = 0.027).

Conclusions

Hyperhidrosis is associated with the use of prescriptions for antibiotics and topical antifungals. This suggests a clinically relevant association between hyperhidrosis and skin infections.

Keywords:

• Antibiotics
• antifungals
• cohort study
• hyperhidrosis

Acknowledgments

The generous support of Leo Foundation, Denmark (grant number LF 18002) is gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

Dr. Henning and Dr. Pedersen report grants from Leo Foundation, Denmark (grant number LF 18002), during the conduct of the study. Dr. Jemec reports grants and personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Coloplast, personal fees from Chemocentryx, personal fees from LEO pharma, grants from LEO Foundation, grants from Afyx, personal fees from Incyte, grants and personal fees from InflaRx, grants from Janssen-Cilag, grants and personal fees from Novartis, grants and personal fees from UCB, grants from CSL Behring, grants from Regeneron, grants from Sanofi, personal fees from Kymera, personal fees from VielaBio, outside the submitted work. Dr. Ibler, Dr. Ostrowski, Dr. Erikstrup, Dr. Nielsen, Dr. Bruun, Dr. Hjalgrim, Dr. Ullum, Dr. Didriksen, Dr. Dinh and Dr. Rostgaard report no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that supports the findings of this study are not publicly available due to that they are protected by the Danish Act on Processing of Personal Data because they contain information that could compromise the privacy of research participants. The data can only be accessed by application to Videncenter for Dataanmeldelser (contact via webpage: https://www.regionh.dk/til-fagfolk/Forskning-og-innovation/jura-og-data/Videnscenterfordataanmeldelser/Sider/default.aspx; telephone number [phone]; and e-mail: [email protected]).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Leo Foundation, Denmark under Grant [number LF 18002].