Transformation of 5-D itch scale and numerical rating scale in chronic hemodialysis patients.
Pruritus is a common and frustrating symptom in hemodialysis (HD) patients and 5-D itch scale is proposed as a reliable measurement of pruritus. However, information regarding 5-D itch scale categories is currently unavailable. We explored optimal cut-offs 5-D itching scale based on numerical rating scale (NRS) categories in HD patients.



Four hundred and nine HD patients in China Medical University Hospital in December 2014 were included and severity of pruritus was estimated using NRS and 5-D itch scale. The association of NRS and 5-D itch scale was analyzed by linear regression. The optimal cut-offs for 5-D itch scale based on NRS categories were generated.



The average NRS was 3.4 ± 3.0 and the average 5-D itch scale was 10.9 ± 4.8. The 5-D score was strongly correlated with the NRS: r = 0.831 (p < 0.001). NRS = -2.31 + 0.52 × (5-D scale). The averages of 5-D scales were 6.4 ± 1.5, 9.6 ± 2.2, 13.1 ± 3.2, 15.7 ± 4.4, 19.5 ± 4.4 for no, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe pruritus based on categorized NRS. A 5-D itch scale categories were proposed, ≤ 8 for NRS = 0, 9-11 for mild pruritus, 12-17 for moderate pruritus, 18-21 for severe pruritus and ≥ 22 for very severe pruritus.



Categories for the 5-D itch scale were proposed based on the measurements of pruritus severity in HD patients. This information provides a simple solution that enables transformation between the 5-D itch scale and the numerical rating scale.
College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yu-der Road, North District, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.
Jia-Wen
JW
Lai
Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yu-der Road, North District, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.|College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Hung-Chih
HC
Chen
Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yu-der Road, North District, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.|College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Asia University Hospital, Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan.
Che-Yi
0000-0003-4029-9097
CY
Chou
Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Chinese, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Hung-Rong
HR
Yen
Graduate Institute of Biostatistics, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Tsai-Chung
TC
Li
Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Chinese, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Mao-Feng
MF
Sun
Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Chinese, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Hen-Hong
HH
Chang
Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yu-der Road, North District, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.|College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chiu-Ching
CC
Huang
Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.|School of Chinese, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Tsai
College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Johannes
J
Tschen
Kidney Institute and Division of Nephrology, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2, Yu-der Road, North District, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan. d19863@mail.cmuh.org.tw.|College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. d19863@mail.cmuh.org.tw.|Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. d19863@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
Chiz-Tzung
CT
Chang
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011537:Pruritus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
5-D itch scale; Hemodialysis; Numerical rating scale; Pruritus