Itch as a patient-reported symptom in ambulatory care visits in the United States

作者：Shive Melissa; Linos Eleni; Berger Timothy; Wehner Mackenzie; Chren Mary Margaret^*

来源：Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2013, 69(4): 550-556.

DOI：10.1016/j.jaad.2013.05.029

• clinic
• clinic visits
• epidemiology
• itch
• National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
• outpatient
• pruritus
• quality of life
• skin

Background: European studies have shown that itch is a widespread symptom, yet little is known about its frequency in the United States.
Objective: We sought to describe ambulatory care visits to clinicians in the United States for which itch was coded as a patient symptom.
Methods: This study uses retrospective data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 1999 through 2009.
Results: Itch was coded as a symptom for an average of 7 million visits per year or approximately 1% of all outpatient visits, which was nearly 40% of the number of visits for the symptom of low back pain. Patients seen in visits for itch were more likely to be black or Asian than other patients (20% vs 14%). They were also more likely than other patients to receive a new medication (68% vs 36%) and were over twice as likely to receive 2 or more new medications (31% vs 14%).
Limitations: Secondary data sets may not optimally capture patient reports and some of the procedures or medications may have been ordered for reasons other than itch.
Conclusion: Visits to clinicians for itch represent a sizeable proportion of ambulatory care visits in the United States, and research on the epidemiology, treatments, and causes of itch should be a priority.

• 出版日期2013-10