Impact of primary hyperhidrosis on the life of physical education academics of a university in the Brazilian Northeast

Abstract Aim: To assess the prevalence, quality of life (QoL), and the damages caused by PH, in the professional and personal scope of Physical Education academics with Primary Hyperhidrosis (PH). Methods: A descriptive, exploratory, qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out. Twenty-five students from the physical education course at Tiradentes University, Aracaju-SE, were interviewed from August to November 2017. Validated questionnaires were used on PH’s influence in academic activities and QoL. absolute and relative frequencies in the case of categorical variables and measures of trend and central variability in the case of numerical variables. Results: The prevalence of PH in students of Physical Education was 11.11%, mainly in combined sites, such as palmoplantar, and with no difference between the sexes. The symptoms started mostly during childhood and adolescence. Most of the interviewees (92%) reported difficulties with activities such as sports, use of personal protective equipment, handling of work equipment and instruments, and exacerbation in stress situations. They reported significant harm to QoL in situations of greeting people with handshakes, writing, wearing socks and dancing socially. Conclusion: Although PH is a disease that negatively impacts the QoL, it is still little known in the academic world with little demand for medical help. Therefore, it is necessary greater dissemination of the disease for its early diagnosis, related to the intensity of the sweating for a better therapeutic approach.

摘要 目的：评估原发性多汗症（Primary Hyperhidrosis，PH）患者（即体育教育专业学生）的患病率、生活质量（Quality of Life，QoL），以及该病在其职业与个人生活领域造成的损害。方法：本研究采用描述性、探索性、定性与定量相结合的横断面研究设计。于2017年8月至11月期间，对巴西塞尔希培州阿拉卡茹市蒂拉登特斯大学体育教育专业的25名学生开展访谈。采用经过信效度检验的问卷评估PH对学业活动及QoL的影响；针对分类变量计算绝对频数与相对频数，针对数值变量则采用趋势指标与集中变异性指标进行统计分析。结果：体育教育专业学生中PH的患病率为11.11%，受累部位以掌跖等多部位联合受累为主，性别间无显著差异。症状多始发于儿童期与青少年期。92%的受访学生表示，在运动、使用个人防护装备、操作工作器械与工具等活动中存在困难，且在应激状态下症状会加重。他们还表示，握手问候、书写、穿袜及社交舞蹈等场景会对其QoL造成显著负面影响。结论：尽管PH是一种会对QoL产生负面影响的疾病，但在学术领域仍鲜为人知，且患者就医需求较低。因此，亟需加强对该病的科普宣传以实现早期诊断，并结合出汗严重程度制定更优化的治疗方案。