Both Prevalence and Severity of Pruritus are Associated with Age in Chinese Patients with Skin Diseases

Abstract

Background Although the characteristics of pruritus in some skin diseases are documented, characteristics of pruritus related to gender-, age-, and skin disorder have not yet been well defined. Objective To characterize dermatosis-associated pruritus in Chinese patients. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in a single center. The intensity of pruritus was evaluated using a 0–10 visual analog scale (VAS). Skin disorders were diagnosed by dermatologists. The prevalence and intensity of pruritus were compared among skin disorders, and between males and females. Results Valid questionnaires were obtained from 1,246 female and 864 male patients. Patients with acne, eczematous dermatitis, and urticaria accounted for 18%, 17%, and 14%, respectively. Both the prevalence and severity of pruritus varied greatly with skin disorders (p<0.0001). Patients with either urticaria or eczematous dermatitis displayed a higher prevalence of pruritus (92% and 82%, respectively), while subjects with urticaria exhibited the highest VAS in comparison to those with other skin disorders (p<0.05 to p<0.001 vs the others). Moreover, both the prevalence and severity of pruritus were positively associated with age in both males and females (p<0.0001). Furthermore, 60 out of 77 patients (78%) with topical glucocorticoid-induced dermatitis experienced pruritus, with a VAS of 2.03±0.21. Finally, a lower VAS was found in subjects with oily skin than those with either dry or normal skin. Conclusion The prevalence and severity of pruritus vary with skin disorders, skin type, age, and gender in Chinese patients.