title: Clinical Findings and Provision of Care in Haemodialysis Patients with Chronic Itch: New Results from the German Epidemiological Haemodialysis Itch Study.
abstract: The German Epidemiological Haemodialysis Itch Study (GEHIS) has shown that more than one-third of haemodialysis (HD) patients have chronic itch (CI). As part of GEHIS, 216 patients with current CI were offered a dermatological examination, of whom 177 were investigated. According to the clinical classification of the International Forum for the Study of Itch (IFSI), 43.5% (n = 77) of the patients examined had CI with no skin lesions (IFSI II), 37.9% (n = 67) had secondary scratch lesions (IFSI III), and 18.6% (n = 33) primarily had diseased skin (IFSI I). Severity of CI and itch-related quality of life (ItchyQoL) showed a significant association only with IFSI III. Of the patients in this study, 89.8% (n = 159) had xerosis cutis. Only 40.4% (n = 80) had ever sought medical help for CI, 46.4% (n = 32) of whom were in the category IFSI III. Only 32.4% (n = 77) had ever received any treatment for CI and [AQ1] these patients had significantly more severe CI. The current analyses demonstrate that CI is a frequently disregarded symptom in HD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Social Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, University Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls University, Thibautstrasse 3, DE-9115 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kinan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayani
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weisshaar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome