Disparities of itch severity in outpatient clinics as measured by the ItchyQuant.

BACKGROUND: ItchyQuant is a validated patient-reported outcome measure rating itch. Assessment of subjective itch is important in clinical care to adequately understand disease burden. OBJECTIVE: To assess itch severity among patients seen at a high-volume academic dermatology center and characterize variations in itch severity by demographic group and primary diagnosis. METHODS: ItchyQuant was sent to every patient via e-portal 7 days prior to any non-Mohs dermatology encounter. Multinomial logistic regression compared data collected over 2 years. RESULTS: Cohort included 8907 patients (mean age 52 years, 67.4% female, 75.0% White) who responded >0 to ItchyQuant. Increase in age, female sex, and Black race were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of both moderate and severe compared to mild itch. Hispanic compared to non-Hispanic patients were more likely to experience moderate itch. Patients with nonvisible sensations compared to inflammatory/rash diagnoses were more likely to report severe itch. LIMITATIONS: Single-institution retrospective study; patient-reported outcome measures deployed only in English. CONCLUSION: Black, Asian, and Hispanic patients reported higher itch severities than White and non-Hispanic counterparts while overall itch severities were consistent across age groups >45 years. Our data highlight the feasibility of broad ItchyQuant deployment without clinical workflow disruptions and suggest that itch disparities exist.

Duke Scholars

Author Cynthia Lea Green Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics

Author Matilda Wray Nicholas Dermatology