Prevalence and Pattern of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a multisystem disease of increasing prevalence and thus of great public health importance. CKD-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a common dermatologic manifestation of CKD, and it has been associated with increased occurrences of mood and sleep disorders, increased rates of infection and hospitalization, reduced overall quality of life and increased mortality rates.

This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in a tertiary hospital in Southern Nigeria between June 2024 and August 2024 to determine the prevalence and pattern of CKD-aP in 171 pre-dialysis patients with stages 3-5 CKD.

The mean age in this study was 59.9 ± 16.9 years, with females comprising 43.9% of study participants. The prevalence of CKD-aP was 26.9%. The majority (73.9%) had pruritus of moderate severity, and the distribution of pruritus was generalized in 39.1% of those with CKD-aP. There was no significant association observed between gender and aetiology of CKD. (p = 0.364), between gender, aetiology of CKD and pruritus, and between gender, CKD etiology, CKD stage and pruritus severity. CKD stage was a predictor of CKD-aP. (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.24-5.19; p = 0.011).

CKD-aP was relatively common among pre-dialysis CKD, and there was no statistically significant association observed between pruritus, gender, CKD aetiology and CKD stage. It is therefore recommended that CKD-aP should be assessed periodically and managed in all patients with CKD, as this may improve their quality of life and reduce morbidity and mortality.