MO677: Prevalence and Characteristics of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus in Home Hemodialysis Patients Compared to Dialysis Peritoneal and in-Center Hemodialysis

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a very common symptom in dialysis patients and can significantly limit their quality of life and survival. While the prevalence of CKD-aP in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and in-center hemodialysis (HD) patients has been studied, little data are known for home HD (HHD) patients. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence of pruritus in HHD patients, and the factors associated with its presentation, as compared to PD and in-center HD patients. METHOD Cross-sectional, single-center study that included all patients on chronic dialysis treated at our center in November 2021. The patients were divided into three groups according to the dialysis modality (HHD, PD and in-center HD). All the patients answered a validated questionnaire on CKD-aP that evaluated the presence of itching, its intensity, frequency and location; the moment of appearance; the effect on quality of life, emotional state, cognitive function, sexual activity and quality of sleep. Likewise, it was assessed whether they had previously been diagnosed and treated for CKD-aP. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to define the intensity of itching as absent (VAS = 0), mild (VAS = 1–2), moderate (VAS = 3–6) or severe (VAS = 7–10). Clinical and analytical variables were compared between the groups, and the factors associated with the presence of pruritus were analysed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS Nighty-nine patients (41% women) were included, with a mean age of 64 ± 15 years and a median stay on dialysis of 57 (IQR: 17–159) months. The proportion of patients on HHD, PD and in-center HD was 20%, 41% and 39%, respectively. A total of 36% of the patients had some degree of pruritus, being mild, moderate, and severe in 8%, 13%, and 13% of the patients, respectively. The prevalence of pruritus and its intensity was similar in all the dialysis modalities (Figure 1). In the logistic regression analysis, the dialysis modality was not associated with presence of CKD-aP. CONCLUSION In our experience, the prevalence and intensity of pruritus was similar in HHD, PD and in-center HD patients. These data suggest that the type of dialysis techniques does not influence CKD-aP prevalence.