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3 July 2024Experts meet in Zaragoza to evaluate the approach to this ailment in the Community and the therapeutic developments in an event organized by the IIS Aragón with the collaboration of Novartis
More than 1.100 Aragonese are diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), an inflammatory skin disease, known colloquially as acne inversa., which is produced by the plugging of the skin at the hair outlet. The Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), in collaboration with the company Novartis, has held a meeting of experts in this pathology to address the main challenges faced by the Community's health system in the management of this condition, both from the point of view of the health professional and from the perspective of the patient, and the existing therapeutic developments.
Hidradenitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, non-contagious, recurrent and debilitating, which is characterized by the presence of deep, inflamed and very painful lesions in the armpits, groin, external genitalia, buttocks, perianal and perineal areas and submammary and intermammary areas, mainly. The lumps that are generated are similar to boils or pimples that form on and under the skin.
It is a pathology, explained by the regional Executive, which can lead to comorbidities (when two or more disorders or diseases occur in the same person, at the same time or one after the other) of a serious nature, having implications on both a physical, emotional and social level. Currently, the disease has a 1% prevalence worldwide, approximately, suffering from it about half a million people in Spain. It may interest you
“In Aragon there are close to 1.100 diagnosed patients. For this reason, we consider it essential to generate information and dissemination sessions like this among health professionals, since they have the potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. These sessions not only improve the competence and knowledge of health professionals, but also contribute to more effective and personalized care for patients,” explains Yolanda Gilaberte, head of the Dermatology Service at the Miguel Servet University Hospital and president of the Spanish Academy. of Dermatology and Venerology.
Late diagnosis and lack of awareness
The meeting of experts, held last Wednesday, included the participation of the managing director of the Aragonese Health Service, Ana Cristina Castillo, and the president of the national association of patients of hidradenitis, Silvia Lobo.
During the session, key topics related to the management of HS in Aragon were addressed, in such a way that the unmet needs of patients, the therapeutic novelties existing and the challenges that both patients and health professionals face in quality care. It may interest you
In this regard, Castillo has indicated that “specialists and patients in Aragon face various challenges in their current approach, common to the rest of Spain, such as late diagnosis, lack of general awareness about the pathology, access to various treatment options and the high psychosocial impact that generates the disease.” “In our opinion, addressing these challenges requires continuing to promote awareness, research and interdisciplinary collaboration,” he added.
For his part, Gilaberte has pointed out that at the Miguel Servet hospital they have a comprehensive management project of hidradenitis suppurativa, whose objective is to “harmonize the criteria when addressing HS, creating a patient registry and increasing the care offer.”
Lobo wanted to highlight the importance of the associations of those affected, which, in this case, “play a fundamental role, because they are dedicated to informing and training patients, raising awareness and training them so that they can have self-control of the pathology and make the disease visible".
Likewise, during the day the 'HS White Paper', a relevant advance in the management and care of the disease that analyzes the situation of the care process.
Source: Heraldo de Aragón.