Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Pruritus: An Analysis Related to Disease Etiology, Clinical Skin Conditions and Itch Intensity.
BACKGROUND
It is unknown if health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differs between diseases associated with chronic pruritus (CP).


OBJECTIVE
To analyze HRQoL in relation to age, gender, skin lesions (primary vs. scratch-induced secondary) and itch intensity.


METHODS
Consecutive patients of our itch clinic were assessed with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and visual analogue scale (VAS).


RESULTS
In 510 CP patients (282 females; median age, 61.4 years), DLQI scores and VAS values were highly correlated, irrespective of the type of skin lesion. Overall, women had a lower HRQoL compared to men (females: 10.7 ± 6.7, males: 8.9 ± 6.7), but female gender was only associated with worse quality of life in patients <65 years old.


CONCLUSIONS
HRQoL impairment in CP is highly influenced by pruritus intensity but not to the visible skin lesion or underlying cause. With limitations to item bias, DLQI is a suitable instrument for estimating quality of life impairment by CP.
Department of Dermatology, Center for Chronic Pruritus, University Hospital Mx00FC;nster, Mx00FC;nster, Germany.
Benjamin
B
Warlich
Fleur
F
Fritz
Nani
N
Osada
Philipp
P
Bruland
Astrid
A
Stumpf
Gudrun
G
Schneider
Martin
M
Dugas
Bettina
B
Pfleiderer
Sonja
S
Ständer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult