Assessment of the Psychological Burden Associated with Pruritus in Hemodialysis Patients Using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form

Overview

Journal Qual Life Res

Specialties Pharmacology
Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2011 Jul 12

PMID 21744033

Citations 30

Authors

Gildete Barreto Lopes

Fernanda Conceicao Pereira Nogueira

Milena Reis de Souza

Maria Auxiliadora Penalva

Josete Leao de Amorim

Ronald L Pisoni

Bruce M Robinson

Antonio Alberto Lopes

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess whether depression symptoms, poor sleep and dry skin bother explain association between pruritus and the burden of kidney disease in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 980 patients from a prospective study in dialysis units of Salvador, Brazil (PROHEMO). The Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form was used to determine scores of kidney disease burden (KDB) and sleep with higher scores indicating lower perceived burden and better sleep quality, respectively. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used for depression symptoms.

Results: Prevalence of severe pruritus (very much or extreme) was 19.4%. Significantly (P < 0.001) lower mean KDB score by 11.44 points was observed for patients with severe pruritus (34.18 ± 27.51) than for those with no pruritus (45.62 ± 30.73). Severe pruritus was associated with poorer sleep quality, higher odds of dry skin bother and higher depression symptoms score. Association of pruritus with KDB score was virtually eliminated after adjustment for sleep, dry skin bother and depression symptoms.

Conclusions: This study shows strong associations of severe pruritus with higher depression symptoms, poorer sleep and dry skin bother among MHD patients. The results support special attention to MHD patients with pruritus who often face high psychological burden.

Citing Articles

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus and patient-centred outcomes: a systematic review.

Wang T, Goh J, Seth S, Do L, Tesfaye W, Sud K J Nephrol. 2025; .

PMID: 40000587 DOI: 10.1007/s40620-025-02221-9.

Unmet Needs in the Management of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus and the Characteristics of the Ideal Treatment: A Spanish Cross-Sectional Survey from a Multidisciplinary Perspective.

de Sequera P, Martinez-Sesmero J, Romo I, Calvo A, Aceituno S, Ruiz-Andres O J Clin Med. 2025; 14(2).

PMID: 39860631 PMC: 11766129. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14020624.

Pathways for Diagnosing and Treating CKD-Associated Pruritus: A Narrative Review.

Rigatto C, Collister D, Granger-Vallee A, Girard L, Hingwala J, Karaboyas A Can J Kidney Health Dis. 2024; 11:20543581241238808.

PMID: 38680970 PMC: 11047256. DOI: 10.1177/20543581241238808.

Moderate-to-severe pruritus in untreated or non-responsive hemodialysis patients: results of the French prospective multicenter observational study Pruripreva.

Lanot A, Bataille S, Rostoker G, Bataille P, Chauveau P, Touzot M Clin Kidney J. 2023; 16(7):1102-1112.

PMID: 37398693 PMC: 10310516. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfad032.

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is associated with worse quality of life and increased healthcare utilization among dialysis patients.

Ion Titapiccolo J, Lonati C, Goethel-Paal B, Rincon Bello A, Bellocchio F, Pizzo A Qual Life Res. 2023; 32(10):2939-2950.

PMID: 37269433 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-023-03438-6.

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