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The prevalence and characteristics of pruritus in patients with heart failure
Author(s) -
Niklasson O.,
Boman K.,
Stenberg B.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.13682
Subject(s) - itching , medicine , coronary artery disease , rash , heart failure , population , dermatology , disease , environmental health
Summary Background Pruritus (itching) can be a distressing symptom, and previous research suggests that it is common in patients with chronic heart failure ( CHF ). Objectives The primary aim was to examine the prevalence of itching in patients with CHF and to compare this first to that among patients with coronary artery disease ( CAD ) and second to that of a normal Swedish population. The study also explored characteristics and possible causes of pruritus in patients with CHF . Methods In this cross‐sectional prevalence study, a questionnaire was sent to 130 patients with CHF and to 130 with CAD . A total of 85 patients with CHF (65·4%) and 82 with CAD (63·1%) participated. Data were also compared with those of a previous study examining symptoms in a normal Swedish population. Results The prevalence of itching at some point during the last 3 months was 40·0% in patients with CHF and 23·2% in patients with CAD ( P = 0·019). This difference was not significant after adjusting for sex, age and medication. Patients with CHF described their pruritus as more disturbing than patients with CAD . In addition, 13·6% of patients with CHF and 3·8% of persons in the normal population experienced itching every week without any rash ( P = 0·001). Conclusions Pruritus is common and sometimes disturbing in patients with CHF and warrants clinical attention. Medication should be considered as a cause of itching and may explain differences in the prevalence between patients with CHF and those with CAD . However, other causes of itching in patients with CHF should be explored in prospective studies.