A cross-sectional epidemiological study of hidradenitis suppurativa in an Irish population (SHIP).

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory disease that affects apocrine gland-bearing skin, has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Estimates of the epidemiologic prevalence of HS are highly variable, and clinical data on disease characteristics and patient burden of disease remain limited. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to determine the number of patients with HS attending dermatology clinics in a hospital setting in Ireland (within a 6-month time period). Secondary objectives included the assessment of disease characteristics and the collection of patient responses on disease burden and work productivity. METHODS: This was an epidemiologic, non-interventional, cross-sectional study across four dermatology clinics in Ireland over a 6-month time period. The disease prevalence was estimated by calculating the percentage of total patients with a diagnosis of HS (the primary population) across the selected sites. Secondary analyses were performed using the full analysis set, which consisted of eligible adults (≥18 years of age) from the primary population who provided informed consent. Data from these analyses are presented as descriptive summary statistics, with the use of an analysis of covariance for continuous endpoints. RESULTS: The prevalence of HS across the four selected sites was estimated at 1.4% (95% CI, 1.24-1.62). One hundred and fifty eligible patients comprised the full analysis set. The majority of participants were white (95.3%), female (70.0%), cigarette smokers (56.0%) and overweight or obese (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 , 81.8%). Most patients for whom data were available presented with Hurley stage II (50.4%), and more than a third of the full analysis set had a relative with HS (34.7%). Questionnaire responses revealed a profound impact on quality of life, including diminished work productivity and various psychological comorbidities. CONCLUSION: This study offers insight into the clinical features and disease burden of hidradenitis suppurativa in an Irish population.

Deprivation and food access and balance in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

INTRODUCTION: We explored food access and balance in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada in relation to material and social deprivation. METHODS: We mapped the location of all large supermarkets and fast food retailers in Saskatoon. Supermarket accessibility index scores and food balance scores were compared to material and social deprivation indexes to determine significant associations. RESULTS: Our results indicate that the poorest access to supermarkets occurred in areas west of the South Saskatchewan River and also in suburban areas around the perimeter of the city. Areas west of the river are some of the most deprived areas in the city. Saskatoon's mean food balance ratio of 2.3 indicates that access favours fast food. However, we did not find a clear pattern or clear socio-economic gradient for most measures. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of contextual studies of food access. This study also highlighted a number of other issues that should be explored in the Saskatoon context such as individual-level food consumption patterns, mobility, temporal dimensions of food access and economic access as well as interventions that could improve food access in the city.

TITLE: Défavorisation, accès aux aliments et équilibre alimentaire à Saskatoon (Saskatchewan). INTRODUCTION: Nous avons étudié l'accès aux aliments et l'équilibre alimentaire à Saskatoon (Saskatchewan, Canada) en lien avec la défavorisation matérielle et sociale. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Nous avons déterminé l'emplacement de tous les grands supermarchés et des restaurants minute à Saskatoon. L'indice d'accessibilité aux supermarchés et celui de l'équilibre alimentaire ont été comparés aux indices de défavorisation matérielle et sociale afin de déterminer s'il y avait une association importante. RÉSULTATS: Les endroits où il y a le moins de supermarchés sont les quartiers situés à l'ouest de la rivière Saskatchewan Sud ainsi que la banlieue entourant la ville. Les quartiers de l'ouest de la rivière sont les plus défavorisés de la ville. Le ratio moyen de l'équilibre alimentaire de Saskatoon est de 2,3, ce qui indique une prédominance de l'accès aux restaurants-minute. Cependant, nous n'avons pas trouvé de schéma ou de gradient socioéconomique clairs pour plusieurs des indicateurs. CONCLUSION: L'étude souligne l'importance des études contextuelles sur l'accès aux aliments. L'étude met également en lumière un certain nombre d'autres questions qui devraient être étudiées à Saskatoon, comme les habitudes alimentaires individuelles, la mobilité, l'évolution dans le temps de l'accès aux aliments, l'accès économique ainsi que les interventions susceptibles d'améliorer l'accès aux aliments dans la ville.