Abstract: Introduction Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin disease with high unmet need in its management and care process. This can delay its diagnosis and complicate the subsequent therapeutic approach. The objective was to evaluate the economic impact of modifying the care process for HS from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System (NHS). Materials and methods By simulating the care process of patients with HS in a current scenario and an alternative scenario in which potential process improvements (suggested by a panel of experts) are implemented, the resource use (visits, tests, surgery) and costs associated with HS of an average patient from symptom onset to 1-year follow-up after diagnosis were estimated. The economic impact was estimated based on the cost difference between the two scenarios (€, 2024). Results The total cost per patient was estimated to be € 8,407 in the current scenario and € 3,053 in the alternative scenario, representing a 64% (€ 5,354) reduction. The 71% (€ 3,777) of the avoidable costs were estimated in the prediagnostic phase, mainly due to the redistribution of visits between the two scenarios. Conclusions Improving the HS care process positively impacts patient management and quality of life, as well as savings in both the prediagnostic phase and the first year of follow-up of patients from an NHS perspective.

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