MO915: Factors Related to Chronic Kidney Disease–Associated Pruritus in Patients Undergoing Haemodialysis and its Effects on Quality of Life

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is an often overlooked, common and debilitating problem for patients undergoing haemodialysis. Although the prevalance of CKD-aP has decreased over the years, it continues to be a problem associated with quality of life impairment, sleep disturbances, increased mortality and morbidity. With this study, we aim to investigate factors related to CKD-aP and its impact on patients’ quality of life. METHOD We conducted a cross-sectional study of in-centre HD patients in the city of Eskişehir, Turkey. A total of 298 patients undergoing HD for >3 months were enrolled in the study. We analysed demographic characteristics, routine laboratory values, interdialytic weight gain, residual urine output, xerosis, 5D itch scale scores (multidimensional itch-related questionnaire), VAS score (ranging from no itching to the worst itching imaginable) and LANSS score (neuropathic pain assessment scale) of enrolled patients. RESULTS Mean age of 298 patients was 64.6 ± 13.2 and 52% of patients were male. Pruritus prevalence in the study group was 45%. The 5D scores were higher among patients with < 200 mL residual urine output versus patients with >500 mL residual urine output (P = .034). The 5D scores were higher among patients with xerosis (P < .001). The 5D scores were again higher among patients with a LANSS score of ≥ 12 (P < .001). The 5D scores were lower among the low-flux membrane group versus the high-flux membrane group (P = .001). The 5D scores were correlated with interdialytic weight gain (r = 0.124; P = .033), Kt/V (r = –0.228; P < .001), ALT levels (r = 0.135; P = .02), total iron binding capacity (r = .13; P = .025) and VAS scores (r = 0.969; P < .001). There were no statistically significant correlations between 5D scores and age, body mass index, HD duration, creatinine, BUN, calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product (CAxP) and other routinely tested laboratory values. CONCLUSION In our study, we identified residual urine output, xerosis, neuropathic pain, HD membrane type, interdialytic weight gain, Kt/V, ALT and TIBC as factors related to CKD-aP. The strong relationship between itch severity and neropathic pain scores was especially notable. More research in this field may be beneficial for identifying new therapeutic targets for CKD-aP.