J Korean Med Sci.  2010 May;25(5):772-775. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.5.772.

An Epidemiological Study of Hyperhidrosis Patients Visiting the Ajou University Hospital Hyperhidrosis Center in Korea

• Park EJ
• Han KR
• Choi H
• Kim DW
• Kim C

• KMID: 1713964
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.5.772

Abstract

Hyperhidrosis is a disorder of perspiration in excess of the body's physiologic need and significantly impacts one's occupational, physical, emotional, and social life. The purpose of our study was to investigate the characteristics of primary hyperhidrosis in 255 patients at Ajou University Hospital Hyperhidrosis Center from March 2006, to February 2008. Information collected from the medical records was: sex, sites of hyperhidrosis, age at visit, age of onset, aggravating factors, hyperhidrosis disease severity scale (HDSS) rank, family history, occupation, and past treatment. A total of 255 patient records were reviewed; 57.6% were male. Patients with a family history (34.1%) showed a lower age of onset (13.21+/-5.80 yr vs. 16.04+/-9.83 yr in those without family history); 16.5% had previous treatment, most commonly oriental medicine. Palmar and plantar sites were the most commonly affected, and 87.9% of patients felt their sweating was intolerable and always interfered with their daily activities. Our study provides some original information on the Korean primary hyperhidrosis population. Patients who have a family history show signs of disease in early age than those without family history.

Keyword

Epidemiology; Primary Hyperhidrosis

MeSH Terms

Academic Medical Centers/statistics & numerical data
Adult
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease/*epidemiology/*genetics
Hospitalization/*statistics & numerical data
Humans
Hyperhidrosis/*epidemiology/*genetics
Incidence
Male
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Sites of hyperhidrosis. Others are any combinations of excessive sweating sites except palmar/platar and palmar/plantar/axillae.

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  Fig. 2 Impact of sweating on daily activities accounting by hyperhidrosis severity scale.

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