Prevalence and associated factors of uraemic pruritus in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients

Abstract

Objective Uraemic pruritus is a distressing symptom that has a negative impact on the quality of life for dialysis patients. The pathophysiology of pruritus in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is still poorly understood. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence and related risk factors of pruritus in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Methods In total, 362 CAPD cases were investigated from January 2012 to April 2013. Pruritus was assessed by visual analogue scale. Results The prevalence of severe pruritus and mild to moderate pruritus was 12.7% and 52.5%, respectively. The patients with severe pruritus had the longest duration of PD (p<0.001), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score (p<0.001), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score (p=0.003), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level (p=0.009), and the lowest Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 Health Survey, Physical Component Score (SF-36 PCS) (p<0.001) among the three groups. The patients with mild to moderate pruritus had a significantly higher iPTH level (p=0.004) compared with the patients without pruritus. A multivariate logistic regression for pruritus showed that higher PSQI score [odds ratio (OR)=1.305, p=0.001], higher BDI score (OR=1.429, p=0.002), longer vintage (OR=1.039, p=0.004), and higher iPTH level (OR=1.317, p= 0.014) were independently associated with pruritus. Conclusion The prevalence of uraemic pruritus was 65.2% in CAPD patients. Sleep disorder, depression, longer vintage, and a higher iPTH level were independent associated factors for pruritus in CAPD patients.