Investigating The Impact of Pruritus on The Quality of Life of the Elderly in Surakarta Nursing Home

Triasari Oktavriana, Prasetyadi Mawardi, Ammarilis Murastami, Alamanda Murasmita, Sesia Pradestine, Osdatilla Esa Putri, Lifesia Natali Lidjaja, Vrenda Alia, Nila Kusumasari

Abstract


Background: The elderly population has been growing rapidly in recent decades. Research has shown that the prevalence of itching (pruritus) increases with age, with 20.8% of individuals aged 60-69 years experiencing it, 22.9% for those aged 70-79 years, and 26% for those aged 75 years and above. Assessing the skin's barrier function by measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL) using a tool called a Tewameter is important for objectively evaluating dry skin, which is the most common cause of itching in the elderly. It's important to understand how itching affects the quality of life of the elderly, particularly in nursing homes. Objective: This study aims to determine how itching affects the quality of life of the elderly in nursing homes in Surakarta City, especially at PMI Peduli and Aisyiyah Nursing Homes. Methods: This research used an observational, cross-sectional design. Data was collected through interviews using the 5D itch scale questionnaire, and the quality of life was measured using the DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index) questionnaire. TEWL levels were also measured using a Tewameter. Results: 29 subjects participated in the interviews, with 69% being women and 31% being men. Most subjects were aged 60-69 years (41%), and the most common comorbidity was hypertension (41%). The 5D Itch Scale questionnaire revealed that itching affected the subjects for less than 6 hours daily (66%), and during the last 2 weeks, itching did not significantly impact the subjects' activities, including sleep, hobbies, housework, and work (51%-69%). The most common location of itching was the back (14%). The DLQI data showed that itching had a severe impact on the subjects (65.5%), followed by a moderate impact (24.1%), and a very severe impact (10.3%). TEWL data indicated that all subjects had an increase of >10 g/h/m2. Conclusion: The study found that itching had a mild impact on the lives and activities of the subjects in general, lasting for less than 6 hours a day. The statistical results showed a positive and significant relationship between the intensity of itching and the quality of life of the elderly with pruritus.


Keywords


Pruritus, elderly, Quality of life, TEWL

Full Text:

PDF

References


. Pusat Data Informasi Kementerian Kesehatan Indonesia. Analisis Lansia di Indonesia. Jakarta: 2017.

. Augustin M, Kirsten N, Körber A, Wilsmann-Theis D, Itschert G, Staubach-Renz P, et al. Prevalence, predictors and comorbidity of dry skin in the general population. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019;33:147–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15157.

. Darjani A, Mohtasham-Amiri Z, Mohammad Amini K, Golchai J, Sadre-Eshkevari S, Alizade N. Skin Disorders among Elder Patients in a Referral Center in Northern Iran (2011). Dermatol Res Pract 2013;2013:193205. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/193205.

. Reszke R, Pełka D, Walasek A, Machaj Z, Reich A. Skin disorders in elderly subjects. Int J Dermatol 2015;54:e332-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.12832.

. Görög A, Bánvölgyi A, Holló P. Characteristics of the ageing skin, xerosis cutis and its complications. Developments in Health Sciences 2022;4:77–80. https://doi.org/10.1556/2066.2021.00051.

. Garibyan L, Chiou AS, Elmariah SB. Advanced aging skin and itch: addressing an unmet need. Dermatol Ther 2013;26:92–103. https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.12029.

. Ständer S, Augustin M, Reich A, Blome C, Ebata T, Phan NQ, et al. Pruritus assessment in clinical trials: consensus recommendations from the International Forum for the Study of Itch (IFSI) Special Interest Group Scoring Itch in Clinical Trials. Acta Derm Venereol 2013;93:509–14. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-1620.

. Valdes-Rodriguez R, Stull C, Yosipovitch G. Chronic pruritus in the elderly: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. Drugs Aging 2015;32:201–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-015-0246-0.

. Abad-Casintahan F, Chow SKW, Goh CL, Kubba R, Miyachi Y, Noppakun N, et al. Toward evidence-based practice in acne: consensus of an Asian Working Group. J Dermatol 2011;38:1041–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1346-8138.2011.01266.x.

. Song J, Xian D, Yang L, Xiong X, Lai R, Zhong J. Pruritus: Progress toward Pathogenesis and Treatment. Biomed Res Int 2018;2018:9625936. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9625936.

. Kottner J, Lichterfeld A, Blume-Peytavi U. Transepidermal water loss in young and aged healthy humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dermatol Res 2013;305:315–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-012-1313-6.

. Paul C, Maumus-Robert S, Mazereeuw-Hautier J, Guyen CN, Saudez X, Schmitt AM. Prevalence and risk factors for xerosis in the elderly: a cross-sectional epidemiological study in primary care. Dermatology 2011;223:260–5. https://doi.org/10.1159/000334631.

. Lacouture ME. Mechanisms of cutaneous toxicities to EGFR inhibitors. Nat Rev Cancer 2016;6:803–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc1970.

. Guttman-Yassky E, Mita A, De Jonge M, Matthews L, McCarthy S, Iwata KK, et al. Characterisation of the cutaneous pathology in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib. Eur J Cancer 2010;46:2010–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2010.04.028.

. Mizuno M, Kunimoto K, Naru E, Kameyama K, Furukawa F, Yamamoto Y. The effects of continuous application of sunscreen on photoaged skin in Japanese elderly people - the relationship with the usage. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2016;9:95–105. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S104392.

. Hawro T, Przybyłowicz K, Spindler M, Hawro M, Steć M, Altrichter S, et al. The characteristics and impact of pruritus in adult dermatology patients: A prospective, cross-sectional study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2021;84:691–700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.08.035.

. Vyumvuhore R, Michael‐Jubeli R, Verzeaux L, Boudier D, Le Guillou M, Bordes S, et al. Lipid organization in xerosis: the key of the problem? Int J Cosmet Sci 2018;40:549–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12496.

. Anne Isabel G, David B, Josselin B, Delphine R, Maud Le G, Brigitte C. An Innovative, Rapid, Qualitative and Quantitative Approach to the Epidermal Barrier Function with In Vivo Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. IFSCC Magazine 2013;16:157–63.

. Mohammed D, Matts PJ, Hadgraft J, Lane ME. Variation of Stratum Corneum Biophysical and Molecular Properties with Anatomic Site. AAPS J 2012;14:806–12. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12248-012-9400-3.

. Akdeniz M, Gabriel S, Lichterfeld-Kottner A, Blume-Peytavi U, Kottner J. Transepidermal water loss in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis update. Br J Dermatol 2018;179:1049–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.17025.

. Kandwal M, Jindal R, Chauhan P, Roy S. Skin diseases in geriatrics and their effect on the quality of life: A hospital-based observational study. J Family Med Prim Care 2020;9:1453. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1188_19




DOI: https://doi.org/10.33854/heme.v7i1.1641

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License   Health and Medical Journal This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.