Witte F, Zeidler C, Ständer S. [Management of pruritus in the elderly].
DERMATOLOGIE (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023;
74:670-677. [PMID:
37599291 DOI:
10.1007/s00105-023-05207-5]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Chronic pruritus (CP), a frequent (20.3%) symptom in the elderly, increases with age. It has a significant impact on the quality of life, ranking among the 50 most burdensome diseases worldwide (Global Burden of Disease Study).
OBJECTIVES
The aim is to provide an overview of the symptom CP in the elderly and to improve differentiation of underlying conditions and management of this entity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A literature search in PubMed was performed, using the terms 'pruritus', 'elderly' and 'gerontodermatology'.
RESULTS
The main causes of CP in the elderly are the physiologic aging process (xerosis cutis, immunosenescence, neuropathy), the increase in potentially pruritic diseases with increasing age (diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure), and polypharmacy. Therapeutic options relate to causes, severity of pruritus, and individual patient factors (multimorbidity, impaired organ function). The recently updated S2k guideline 'Diagnosis and therapy of chronic pruritus' is helpful.
CONCLUSION
CP in the elderly is challenging for both patients and physicians. Not only the difficulty of identifying the underlying cause, but the complexity of treatment and its tolerability and practicability determines these patients' further burden.
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