Burden of Aquagenic Pruritus in Polycythaemia Vera

Acta Derm Venereol. 2018 Feb 7;98(2):185-190. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2812.

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.

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • Water