Differences in subjective and objective evaluation of hyperhidrosis. Study among medical students

Introduction
Hyperhidrosis is a condition that significantly impairs patients’ quality of life. Qualification for treatment in most cases is based only on subjective evaluation of symptoms without objective confirmation.

Aim
To evaluate the differences between subjective and objective evaluation of sweating among medical students.

Material and methods
There were 179 participants involved in the study. Subjective evaluation of sweating was conducted using the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale and Numeric Rating Scale in 4 body areas: the face, palms, armpits and abdomino-lumbar area. Objective evaluation of sweating was performed using gravimetry.

Results
The prevalence of hyperhidrosis in gravimetric measures was 1.12%. In subjective evaluation hyperhidrosis (HDSS 3 or 4) was present in 11.17% of cases. There was no significant difference in subjective evaluation of hyperhidrosis between men and women (15% vs. 9.24%; p = 0.32). In gravimetry men showed a higher perspiration rate on the face (5.85 vs. 3.38; p < 0.05) and in the armpits (17.27 vs. 9.12; p < 0.05). Individuals with body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m² reported hyperhidrosis more often (28% vs. 8.44%; p < 0.05); however, in gravimetric evaluation, beside the facial area, no significant differences in above-mentioned groups were observed.

Conclusions
There is a discrepancy between subjective and objective methods of evaluating sweating.