Effects of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus and Xerosis on the Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52340/GBMN.2026.01.01.148Keywords:
Chronic kidney disease, dermatology life quality index, end-stage renal disease, pruritus, xerosisAbstract
Background: Skin problems are associated with negative effects on the overall QoL of patients undergoing hemodialysis. In particular, dry skin and itching symptoms are factors that greatly reduce patient quality of life (QoL). Objectives: This study aimed to provide a precise description of the quality of life (QoL) status of patients with mild-to-severe uremic xerosis and pruritus. Correlation tests on QoL with uremic pruritus were also investigated. Methods: The study protocols and data collection procedures were approved by the Bioethics Commission of Tbilisi State Medical University. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Based on the presence of uremic pruritus and/or xerosis, study subjects were divided into three groups: group 1 – patients with xerosis (n=37); group 2 – patients with pruritus (n=19); and group 3 – patients with pruritus and xerosis (n=40). Results: The study shows that the DLQI score in patients with xerosis is significantly lower than in groups 2 and 3 (p<0.05). The comparison between groups 2 and 3 showed a significant difference only on the "Work and school" subscale. The DLQI score for this subscale was significantly higher in patients with uremic pruritus than in patients with xerosis and pruritus (p<0.05). Correlation analysis of demographic and lesion status variables with DLQI-score revealed that: age of patients did not correlate with DLQI-index (r=-0.103; p=0.318); degree of xerosis positively correlated with DLQI-index (r=0.388; p<0.001); degree of pruritus positively correlated with DLQI-index (r=0.864; p<0.001). Conclusions: Our data clearly demonstrate that ESRD patients under hemodialysis experience a significant reduction in their QoL. Uremic xerosis and uremic pruritus, which participate in the deterioration of their QoL, have a psychosocial impact that appears to be vastly underestimated in clinical practice. Uremic xerosis compromises QoL indirectly by aggravating uremic pruritus and, to a lesser extent, directly, but in a way that is not related to the xerotic lesions. However, worsened QoL, as assessed by the DLQI, was associated with the severity of uremic xerosis and pruritus.References
Age of patients did not correlate with DLQI-index (r=-0.103; p=0.318);
Degree of xerosis positively correlated with DLQI-index (r=0.388; p<0.001);
Degree of pruritus positively correlated with DLQI-index (r=0.864; p<0.001).
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