Quitting smoking could lead to a gradual reduction in the risk of developing hidradenitis suppurativa, with levels comparable to those who have never smoked becoming apparent after about 3 years, according to a new study.
In the study, published in JAMA Dermatology, investigators examined the association between smoking cessation and the risk of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) development. This nationwide cohort study in South Korea analyzed data from 6.2 million participants, with an average age of 47.2 years (standard deviation = 13.5 years), of whom 55.6% were male.
The investigators found that the participants who quit smoking had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.56–0.83), showing a 32% lower risk of developing HS compared with those who continued smoking. Those who had quit smoking and maintained cessation had an adjusted HR of 0.67 (95% CI = 0.57–0.77), reflecting a 33% lower risk, whereas the participants who never smoked had an adjusted HR of 0.57 (95% CI = 0.52–0.63), indicating a 43% lower risk of HS compared with sustained smokers.
Further, the investigators found that smoking cessation was associated with a statistically significant reduction in HS risk. Notably, the risk reduction became apparent approximately 3 years after cessation, with levels resembling those of never-smokers. In contrast, the participants who resumed smoking or initiated smoking during the study period exhibited similar risks as continuous smokers.
During the follow-up period, a total of 3,761 cases of HS were identified over 84.5 million person-years of observation. Three to 4 years after quitting smoking, the risk of HS in those who had stopped smoking declined to levels comparable to participants who had never smoked, with this significant risk reduction continuing over time. The adjusted HR was 0.58 (95% CI = 0.36–0.92) between 3 and 6 years after cessation, and 0.70 (95% CI = 0.50–0.97) among those who avoided smoking for 12 years or more.
These findings provided evidence that sustained smoking cessation may be associated with a reduced risk of HS. The study presented data suggesting that resuming or initiating smoking may elevate the risk of HS to levels comparable to persistent smokers.
Full disclosures can be found in the published study.