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Itch in the General Internal Medicine Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study of Prevalence and Quality-of-Life Effects

  • Original Research Article
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American Journal of Clinical Dermatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Itch is a well-established symptom in cutaneous disease. However, little is known about the burden of itch outside the dermatology setting.

Purpose

To determine the prevalence and impact of itch on quality of life (QOL) in the general internal medicine setting.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of 2076 adults from an outpatient general internal medicine clinic, using an audio computer-assisted self-administered interview. A history of itch (acute or chronic) and other physical symptoms in the past week, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) 10-item Global Health Questionnaire scores, and Patient Health Questionnaire-2 scores were assessed.

Results

The prevalence of itch was 39.9 % and increased with age from 33.1 % at age 19–39 years to 45.9 % at age ≥80 years. In multivariable models controlled for socio-demographics, even feeling “a little” or “some” distress from itch was significantly associated with lower PROMIS global physical and mental health T-scores and estimated health utility scores (P ≤ 0.01). Further, feeling “quite a lot” of distress or “very much” distress from itch was associated with higher adjusted odds ratios for depressed mood (4.91 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 3.36–7.18]) and anhedonia (4.46 [95 % CI 3.07–6.47]). The patient burden of itch was similar to those of pain, constipation, sexual dysfunction, cough, and weight loss.

Conclusions

Itch occurs commonly in the primary care setting and is associated with poor QOL. Physicians should inquire about itch and its associations during review of systems. Future studies are needed to distinguish between the effects of acute and chronic itch.

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Author contributions

Study concept and design: Keiki Hinami, William Trick, and Jonathan Silverberg. Acquisition of data: Keiki Hinami, William Trick, and Jonathan Silverberg. Analysis and interpretation of data: Jonathan Silverberg, Keiki Hinami, and David Cella. Drafting of the manuscript: Jonathan Silverberg, David Cella, and Keiki Hinami. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Jonathan Silverberg, David Cella, William Trick, and Keiki Hinami. Statistical analysis: Jonathan Silverberg. Obtaining funding: Jonathan Silverberg, William Trick, and David Cella.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Dermatology, Medical Social Sciences and Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Suite 1600, 676 N. St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Jonathan I. Silverberg

  2. Northwestern Medicine Multidisciplinary Eczema Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Jonathan I. Silverberg

  3. Collaborative Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, Chicago, IL, USA

    Keiki Hinami & William E. Trick

  4. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    David Cella

Authors
  1. Jonathan I. Silverberg
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  2. Keiki Hinami
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  3. William E. Trick
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  4. David Cella
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan I. Silverberg.

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Funding

This publication was made possible with support from the Dermatology Foundation and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Grant Numbers K12HS023011 and R24 HS19481-01 to support technology implementation.

Conflict of interest

Jonathan Silverberg, David Cella, William Trick, and Keiki Hinami have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical approval/informed consent

This study was approved by the CCHHS institutional review board (protocol #14-096). All participants provided written informed consent for study participation.

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Silverberg, J.I., Hinami, K., Trick, W.E. et al. Itch in the General Internal Medicine Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study of Prevalence and Quality-of-Life Effects. Am J Clin Dermatol 17, 681–690 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-016-0215-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-016-0215-3

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