Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (Mar 2021)

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

  • Wang X,
  • Lai Q,
  • Zheng B,
  • Ye L,
  • Wen S,
  • Yan Y,
  • Yang B,
  • Man MQ

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 217 – 223

Abstract

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Xiaohua Wang,1,* Qingsong Lai,2,* Baoqing Zheng,1 Li Ye,1 Si Wen,1 Yunling Yan,1 Bin Yang,1 Mao-Qiang Man1 1Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, 510091, People’s Republic of China; 2Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control of Puning City, Puning, Guangdong, 515300, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Mao-Qiang Man; Bin YangDermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, 2 Lujing Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510091, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]; [email protected]: 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.Keywords: skin disorder, pruritus, prevalence, severity, gender, age

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