Pruritus in hemodialysis patients: association with phosphorus intake and serum calcium level.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between the occurrence of pruritus and adherence to the prescribed diet, biochemical indicators of renal function and the quality of hemodialysis in chronic renal patients.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study performed at a dialysis clinic in the Northeast of Brazil, with 200 patients undergoing hemodialysis in the first half of 2015.To analyze the data, inferential statistics were used, using Chi-Square and Fisher's Exact tests; and Mann Whitney U test.

RESULTS

The pruritus was present in 51% of the sample, being associated statistically with phosphorus consumption (P = 0.024) and elevation of serum calcium (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Pruritus in chronic renal patients undergoing hemodialysis is influenced by adequate nonadherence to the prescribed diet, in addition to the elevation of biochemical indicators of renal function.