Topic 7: Use Patient-Reported Measures Selectively
Validated questionnaires can organize information, establish a baseline, and make change easier to discuss. A HiSTORIC consensus recommended the HS Quality of Life (HiSQOL) measure for clinical practice and identified a three-month assessment interval as the preferred interval among participating experts.1
The 17-item HiSQOL covers symptoms, psychosocial effects, and activities or adaptations over the previous seven days. Real-world validation published in 2025 supports its use as an HS-specific quality-of-life measure and suggests that the general dermatology DLQI may not capture which concerns matter most in HS.6
Additional 2025 psychometric validation using phase III trial data supported the HiSQOL’s ability to distinguish levels of HS-related impact and detect meaningful change.7
In a time-limited visit, a validated measure may not always be practical. A short structured history covering flare frequency, worst pain, drainage, functional effects, and treatment control is still preferable to omitting patient burden entirely.
The Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) is a single question that asks how much HS has influenced the patient’s quality of life during the past seven days. Patients rate the impact from ‘not at all’ to ‘extremely.’ Because it takes very little time, the PtGA can be completed before or during the visit and used to open a focused discussion about what is driving the rating.8
| Approach | Best use | Caution |
| Brief structured history | Every visit; rapid identification of current priorities | May vary between clinicians unless documented consistently |
| HiSQOL | HS-specific baseline and follow-up of symptoms, psychosocial effects, and adaptations | Takes more time than a few screening questions |
| DLQI | Broad dermatology quality-of-life comparison | May miss or underweight HS-specific concerns |
| Patient Global Assessment (PtGA) | Quick overall patient perception of severity or change | Does not reveal which domain is driving the rating |