Burden of Aquagenic Pruritus in Polycythaemia Vera.

Abstract

Aquagenic pruritus (AP) has a significant influence on quality of life (QoL) in patients with polycythaemia vera. This study analysed the impact of AP on patient well-being in 102 patients with polycythaemia vera. Intensity of pruritus was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), verbal rating scale (VRS) and a 4-item Itch Questionnaire. Psychosocial aspects of AP were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), EQ-5D and itch-specific QoL questionnaire (ItchyQoL). AP of mean duration 6.6 ± 8.6 years and intensity 4.8 ± 1.9 points (VAS) was present in 42/102 individuals. The prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients with AP was 23.8% and 9.5%, respectively. Depression was more frequent in the AP group (vs. non-AP). Moreover, patients with AP had higher HADS-anxiety scoring than those without pruritus (p = 0.005). A negative correlation was found between duration of AP and EQ-5D-VAS. The ItchyQol score of 37.3 ± 12.3 points was influenced by the extent (p =0.01) and duration of episodes of AP (p = 0.02). In conclusion, AP places an additional burden on patients with polycy-thaemia vera, negatively influencing their QoL.

• Authors: Edyta Lelonek, Łukasz Matusiak, Tomasz Wróbel, Jacek Kwiatkowski, Jacek C Szepietowski
• Journal: Acta dermato-venereologica (Acta Derm Venereol) Vol. 98 Issue 2 Pg. 185-190 (Feb 07 2018) ISSN: 1651-2057 [Electronic] Sweden
• PMID: 28971208 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Water

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Anxiety (diagnosis, epidemiology, psychology)
• Cost of Illness
• Depression (diagnosis, epidemiology, psychology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Mental Health
• Middle Aged
• Poland (epidemiology)
• Polycythemia Vera (diagnosis, epidemiology, psychology, therapy)
• Prevalence
• Pruritus (diagnosis, epidemiology, psychology, therapy)
• Quality of Life
• Risk Factors
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Water (adverse effects)