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US prevalence of hyperhidrosis and impact on individuals with axillary hyperhidrosis: Results from a national survey

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Abstract

Background

The current epidemiologic data on hyperhidrosis are scarce and insufficient to provide precise prevalence or impact estimates.

Objective

We sought to estimate the prevalence of hyperhidrosis in the US population and assess the impact of sweating on those affected by axillary hyperhidrosis.

Methods

A nationally representative sample of 150,000 households was screened by mailed survey for hyperhidrosis and projected to the US population based on US census data. Ascertainment of hyperhidrosis was based on a question that asked whether participants experienced excessive or abnormal/unusual sweating.

Results

The prevalence of hyperhidrosis in the survey sample was 2.9% (6800 individuals). The projected prevalence of hyperhidrosis in the United States is 2.8% (7.8 million individuals), and 50.8% of this population (4.0 million individuals) reported that they have axillary hyperhidrosis (1.4% of the US population). Only 38% had discussed their sweating with a health care professional. Approximately one third of individuals with axillary hyperhidrosis (0.5% of the US population or 1.3 million individuals) reported that their sweating is barely tolerable and frequently interferes, or is intolerable and always interferes, with daily activities.

Conclusion

Hyperhidrosis affects a much larger proportion of the US population than previously reported. More than half of these individuals have axillary hyperhidrosis, in which sweating can result in occupational, emotional, psychological, social, and physical impairment.

Section snippets

Methods

Using a consumer omnibus survey, 150,000 US households were screened with a series of questions to define the US hyperhidrosis population. The number of households surveyed was calculated based on an estimated incidence of 0.6% to 1%4 of the US population older than 12 years with hyperhidrosis (we assumed this to be a prevalence figure for the purposes of the sample size estimate). The sample source was NFO WorldGroup's consumer panel, which consists of a nationally representative sample of US

Results

Among the 150,000 households sampled, 69% responded to the survey and 64% completed the necessary components for the prevalence estimate. There did not appear to be substantive response bias as the demographics of the respondents were very similar to the total panel sampled and there was little difference between responders and nonresponders. Any variation in demographics between these groups was adjusted for in the weighting process, so that the final weighted sample of data was representative

Discussion

This analysis provides original information on hyperhidrosis and is the first large representative survey of the prevalence and impact of this disease. The epidemiologic data on hyperhidrosis available before this analysis were insufficient to provide precise prevalence estimates or an understanding of the impact of this illness in the general population. The data provided by this survey fill an important gap in the information available for this disease and are a necessary first step in

Conclusions

The hyperhidrosis prevalence estimates provided by this survey indicate that this disease affects a much larger proportion of individuals in the United States than previously thought (7.8 million individuals or 2.8% of the population). Approximately half of these individuals have axillary hyperhidrosis (4 million individuals or 1.4% of the population) and a large proportion (1.3 million individuals or 0.5% of the population) have sweating that is barely tolerable and frequently interferes or is

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    Supported by Allergan Inc.

    Disclosures: Drs Strutton, Stang, and Glaser are consultants to Allergan Inc. Dr Glaser owns stock in Allergan Inc. Dr Kowalski is employed by and owns stock in Allergan Inc.

    Presented at the American Academy of Dermatology 2003 Annual Meeting and in part at the Canadian Dermatology Association 2003 Annual Meeting.

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