Measuring itch occurrence in various chronic pain conditions: across sectional study

Abstract

Aim: The relationship between chronic pain conditions and itch occurrence has been studied; however, reports on itch among patients with different chronic pain conditions are limited. It is also unclear how pain medications affect itch experienced alongside chronic pain. The primary aim of the current study is primary aim is to investigate the occurrence of itch among patients with various chronic pain conditions, and the secondary aim is to assess the impact of pain medication on itch episodes. Methods: In the initial quarter of 2019, three hundred seventeen patients with chronic pain conditions were followed up at Hamad medical corporation (HMC)’s pain clinics. Of these, 285 met the study criteria and consented to participate. For patients who reported itch during the routine pain assessment, the 5-D score was utilized for the itch evaluation. The effect of pain medications on itch was also documented. Results: Among the 285 patients, 41 (14.4%) reported experiencing an itchy sensation. Out of those 41 patients, 31 (75.6%) were diagnosed with neuropathic pain. This condition was found to be significantly associated with itch (P < 0.0001) compared to other conditions such as musculoskeletal (MSK) and fibromyalgia/myofascial pain, which accounted for only 12% of those who reported itch. Moreover, 25 (60.97%) of the patients with itch reported that they experienced concomitant itch sensations with pain episodes. Notably, 28 patients (68.3%) responded positively to pain medication. Furthermore, the study identified a significant correlation between the duration of pain and the incidence of itch (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The current study findings highlight neuropathic pain as the most prevalent chronic pain condition associated with itch. Additionally, the duration of pain was found to impact itch incidence.