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Five-year follow-up of patients treated with intra-dermal botulinum toxin for axillary hyperhidrosis

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Abstract

Background

Axillary hyperhidrosis is a common complaint affecting 5% of the general population. It can significantly impact quality of life (QOL) and may be extremely debilitating. Administration of intra-dermal botulinum toxin type-A (Botox) has been proven to be effective in managing axillary hyperhidrosis; however, to date, no long-term data has assessed its efficacy.

Aim

We aim to assess long-term (> 5 years) QOL outcomes in this patient cohort.

Methods

In this single-centre series, all patients attending for axillary botox, with five or more years of follow-up, were prospectively included. QOL was assessed in all patients using the validated assessment tool, the modified Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Standard statistical methods were utilised with data reported as mean (± standard deviation). Subgroup analysis utilising previously published departmental data allowed for further assessment of change in QOL over time.

Results

A total of 75 patients (83% female) met the inclusion criteria with 67% completing the DLQI assessment. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 10 years with a mean age of 37.6 years (± 8.82). The mean number of treatments over the study period was 12 (± 3.1). Mean overall post-treatment DLQI score was 1.6 (± 2.01). This represented a significant improvement in patient QOL (p = < 0.0001) associated with long-term botox application. This statistical significance was identified consistently across all components of the DLQI tool.

Conclusion

These data suggest that the established early QOL benefits associated with intra-dermal botox administration for AH are sustained in the long term. This benefit was seen across all subsets of the DLQI tool.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vascular Surgery, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Olwyn E. Lynch, T. Aherne, J. Gibbons, M. R. Boland, É. J. Ryan, E. Boyle, B. Egan & S. Tierney

  2. Department of Surgery, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    E. Boyle, B. Egan & S. Tierney

Authors
  1. Olwyn E. Lynch
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  2. T. Aherne
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  3. J. Gibbons
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  4. M. R. Boland
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  5. É. J. Ryan
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  6. E. Boyle
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  7. B. Egan
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  8. S. Tierney
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Contributions

Lynch OE: Data collection, manuscript writing

Aherne T: Manuscript writing/editing

Gibbons J: Data collection, editing

Boland MR: Data analysis, editing

Ryan ÉJ: Data analysis, editing

Boyle E: Editing, concept

Egan B: Editing, concept

Tierney S: Protocol/project development, manuscript writing/editing

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olwyn E. Lynch.

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Ethical approval was sought and obtained from the local Research Ethics Committee.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Lynch, O.E., Aherne, T., Gibbons, J. et al. Five-year follow-up of patients treated with intra-dermal botulinum toxin for axillary hyperhidrosis. Ir J Med Sci 189, 1023–1026 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-019-02131-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-019-02131-3

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