PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF PRURITUS ON PATIENTS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS AT THE YAOUNDE GENERAL HOSPITAL

Introduction:

Pruritus is one of the most frequent and troublesome symptom affecting patients on maintenance hemodialysis and may be associated with a poor quality of life in severe cases. It may be associated with mineral bone disorders and cutaneous xerosis. Hence we sought to determine the prevalence, the factor associated and the impact of pruritus on patients on maintenance haemodialysis

Methods:

We carried out a 6months cross-sectional study at the hemodialysis unit of the Yaounde General Hospital. We included consenting adult patients on maintenance hemodialysis for atleast 3months. Chronic hemodialysis patients (HD) over 18 years of age who had been on dialysis for at least 3 months were included. Factors associated and impact of pruritus were evaluated using SKINDEX-10 Score which is a Score made up of 10 questions divided into 3 sections which include : affection, mood and social life. Each question is scored from 0(meaning pruritus never disturbs)to 6 (always disturbs).

Results:

We included 81 patients (52 males) with a median age [IQR] of 42.0 years [40.0-49.0] and an age range of 20 and 79 years. The median dialysis vintage [IQR] was 35 [21.0 - 61.0]. Hypertension (61.8%) and diabetes (34.6%) were the most frequent comorbidities. The prevalence of pruritus was 48% (n=39) and it was more often localized (55.9%) than generalized (44.1%). Forty six percent had daily permanent pruritus of moderate intensity though only 23% consulted the doctor. Dialysis vintage was associated with a SKINDEX score ≥20 and hyperphosphatemia was the only factor associated with pruritus (p<0.0001) Pruritus had an impact on patients' mood (r=0.489, p= 0.002) and affection(r=0.592, Valeur p<0.0001) without necessarily altering their social relationships with their loved ones(r=0.293, p= 0.071).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of pruritus was high in our study, and its impact on the lives of chronic hemodialysis patients remarkable.

I have no potential conflict of interest to disclose.

I did not use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.