Outpatient Dermatology Care Linked to Fewer HS Hospital Readmissions: Analysis
Key Takeaways
- A retrospective study of 225 adults with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) shows that of those who sought emergency care, 162 (72%) were admitted to an inpatient service.
- Among hospitalized patients, 39 followed up with dermatology, while 68 did not establish outpatient dermatology care.
- Outpatient dermatology follow-up was associated with significantly fewer readmissions within 1 year, although the abstract does not provide the effect size or P value.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) carries a significant acute-care burden, but outpatient dermatology follow-up may be associated with fewer hospital readmissions, according to a study published in Archives of Dermatological Research.
Researchers examined medical records from Henry Ford Health System to characterize emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations among adults with HS and assess the relationship between dermatology care and readmission. Using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes 705.83 and L73.2, investigators identified patients who visited the emergency department and/or were admitted between 2010 and 2020.
Dermatology Follow-Up and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Readmissions
The analysis included 225 patients with HS who sought emergency department care. Of these, 162 (72%) were admitted to an inpatient service. Among the hospitalized cohort described in the abstract, 39 patients subsequently received dermatology follow-up, whereas 68 did not establish dermatology care.
Access to outpatient dermatology was associated with significantly fewer readmissions within 1 year, according to the investigators. The abstract does not report the magnitude of the difference, confidence intervals, or P value, limiting interpretation of the strength of the association. The retrospective, single-health-system design also limits causal conclusions and broader generalizability.
“There is a significant burden associated with HS,” the authors wrote. “Access to outpatient dermatology care was associated with significantly fewer 1-year readmissions, underscoring the importance of timely, longitudinal dermatologic management in HS.”