Burden of CKD-Associated Pruritus and Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Patients Receiving Dialysis: The Stockholm Creatinine Measurements (SCREAM) Project

Pruritus is a common but not well-characterized symptom of patients receiving dialysis. We analyzed data from 3,281 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in the region of Stockholm, Sweden. At baseline, 14% of patients had pruritus, and pruritus developed in an additional 19% of patients during their time receiving dialysis. We identified conditions associated with the development of pruritus (eg, older age, female sex, lower serum albumin level, and higher C-reactive protein, serum calcium, and phosphorus levels) and observed that the presence of pruritus was associated with higher risks of sleep disorders, developing anxiety and depression, and being hospitalized for severe infections. No association between pruritus and all-cause mortality was identified.