Publications

Background: Pruritus often accompanies chronic skin diseases, exerting considerable burden on manyareas of patient functioning; this burden and the features of pruritus remain insufficiently characterized.Objective:To investigate characteristics, including localization patterns, and burden of pruritus in patientswith chronic dermatoses.

Methods: We recruited 800 patients with active chronic skin diseases. We assessed pruritus intensity,localization, and further characteristics. We used validated questionnaires to assess quality of life, workproductivity and activity impairment, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality.

Results: Nine out of every 10 patients had experienced pruritus throughout their disease and 73% in thelast 7 days. Pruritus often affected the entire body and was not restricted to skin lesions. Patients withmoderate to severe pruritus reported significantly more impairment to their sleep quality and workproductivity, and they were more depressed and anxious than control individuals and patients with mild orno pruritus. Suicidal ideations were highly prevalent in patients with chronic pruritus (18.5%) and atopicdermatitis (11.8%).

Conclusions: Pruritus prevalence and intensity are very high across all dermatoses studied; intensity islinked to impairment in many areas of daily functioning. Effective treatment strategies are urgently requiredto treat pruritus and the underlying skin disease. ( J Am Acad Dermatol 2021;84:691-700.)