Prevalence of chronic itch and associated factors in haemodialysis patients: a representative cross-sectional study.
Chronic itch is a common symptom in haemodialysis (HD) patients, which is often underestimated. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with chronic itch in HD patients. A total of 860 HD patients from a randomly selected cluster-sample of patients attending dialysis units in Germany were included. The patients' mean?±?SD age was 67.2?±?13.5 years, 57.2% were male. The point prevalence of chronic itch was 25.2% (95% CI 22.4-28.1), 12-month prevalence was 27.2% (95% CI 24.1-30.3) and lifetime prevalence was 35.2% (95% CI 31.9-38.3). Chronic itch was significantly less prevalent in patients with secondary glomerulonephritis as primary renal disease. A history of dry skin, eczema, and age <?70 years were significantly associated with chronic itch. General health status and quality of life were significantly more impaired in subjects with chronic itch. This is the first representative cross-sectional study using a precise definition of chronic itch and using different prevalence estimates of chronic itch in HD patients. It demonstrates that chronic itch is a long-lasting burden significantly impairing patients' health.
Department of Clinical Social Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Ruprecht-Karls University, DE-69115 Heidelberg, Germany.
Melanie
M
Weiss
Thomas
T
Mettang
Ulrich
U
Tschulena
Jutta
J
Passlick-Deetjen
Elke
E
Weisshaar
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult