Pruritus in Hemodialysis Patients: Longitudinal Associations With Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes

Previous research has studied itching and its consequences in hemodialysis recipients only at a single time point. We surveyed 7,976 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis to assess itching over a period of 1 year. We found that, among those experiencing itching at the initial assessment, more than half had persistent symptoms 1 year later. Those in whom itching developed during follow-up were more likely to experience depression, poor sleep, long recovery times after dialysis, and feeling faint or drained. These patients also rated their quality of life as poorer than those who did not experience itching. These findings emphasize the potential value of clinical detection of itching and the pursuit of effective treatments for patients receiving dialysis experiencing these symptoms.