Prevalence, Factors, and Impact of CKD-aP on Quality of Life and Sleep in Indian Hemodialysis Patients: Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is characterised as pruritus in individuals with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) without a discernible alternative etiology. This study assessed the prevalence, severity, and effects of CKD-aP on sleep and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among end-stage kidney disease patients (ESKD) undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in an Indian cohort. Methods: This cross-sectional, single-centre study included adults with renal failure undergoing MHD for ≥3 months. The primary outcome was CKD-aP prevalence and its relationship with demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables. Secondary outcomes included CKD-aP severity, characteristics, HRQoL, and sleep quality scores. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS v21, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The 12-item Pruritus Severity Scale found mild CKD-aP to be the most common (37% of patients). The 5-D Itch Scale found that patients with moderate-to-severe CKD-aP had longer daily itching (52.9%) with a nonsignificant change over time (p = 0.18), and the back (77.9%) was the most affected site. The Dermatology Life Quality Index revealed that 75.5% of patients had HRQoL impairment. The Skindex-16 found that moderate-to-severe CKD-aP was linked to a greater symptom burden and emotional distress. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index found poorer sleep quality as CKD-aP worsened. Conclusions: CKD-aP is common in patients undergoing hemodialysis and negatively impacts quality of life, emphasizing the need for routine assessment and targeted management.