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

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.