Prevalence and Severity of Pruritus in Chronic Kidney Disease Dialysis Patients and Its Association with Sleep Quality

Abstract

Pruritus is a common and distressing symptom in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis for chronic kidney disease. It significantly impairs quality of life and sleep quality. However, data on its prevalence and severity in Bangladeshi dialysis populations remain limited. To determine the prevalence and severity of pruritus in chronic kidney disease dialysis patients and to evaluate its association with sleep quality, this prospective cohort study was conducted at Department of Nephrology, BRB Hospitals Limited, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 2024 to December 2025. A total of 93 patients on maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled using purposive sampling. Pruritus severity was assessed using the visual analog scale score, and pruritus frequency was recorded as daily, weekly, or monthly. Sleep quality was evaluated based on the presence of restless sleep. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Mean patient age was 60.4 years, and 62.4% were male. Pruritus prevalence was 51.6%. Moderate pruritus (visual analog scale score 3 to 7) was most common (32.3%). Among patients with pruritus, 50.0% reported daily symptoms. Restless sleep was reported by 74.2% of patients. A significant association existed between pruritus and restless sleep, with 89.9% of restless sleep patients experiencing muscle cramps and poor sleep quality (p = 0.001). Pruritus is highly prevalent among chronic kidney disease dialysis patients and is significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Routine screening and management of pruritus should be integrated into dialysis care to improve patient outcomes.

CBMJ 2026 July: Vol. 15 No. 02 P:336-342