Etiological and Clinical Evaluation of Elderly Patients with Pruritus: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Analysis of 700 Patients

Authors : Özge Zorlu, Umut Günal, Hülya Albayrak, Sema Aytekin

Pages : 233-243

Doi:10.20515/otd.1622981

View : 9 | Download : 3

Publication Date : 2025-02-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Pruritus is one of the most common symptoms in the elderly. It can be associated with dermatological, systemic, neurological, or psychogenic disorders. Identifing the underlying origin and appropriate management of patients are important due to its negative impact on quality of life. We aimed to investigate the demographic and clinical features, etiologies, laboratory work-up, and management of elderly patients with pruritus. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with pruritus aged ≥ 65 years who attended our outpatient clinic between January 2014 and June 2024. Etiological origins were categorized as dermatological, systemic, neurologic, psychogenic, drug-associated, or mixed. A total of 700 patients were included. Pruritus began between the ages of 65-75 years in 69%. Of the patients, 140 (20%) had acute and 560 (80%) had chronic pruritus. Pruritus was localized in 299 (42.7%) and generalized in 401 (57.3%) patients. The trunk, upper and lower extremities were the most common sites of pruritus. The most common causes of pruritus were dermatological (83.6%), followed by systemic (5.6%) and psychogenic (5.1%) origins. The most common dermatological cause of acute pruritus was scabies (20.5%), whereas chronic pruritus was xerosis (32.9%). Chronic renal failure was the leading systemic cause in both acute and chronic pruritus (30% and 42.5%, respectively). In conclusion, the demographics, clinical, and etiological factors of pruritus in the elderly can differ according to the geographic region, sample size, age groups, socioeconomics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Each patient must be examined and treated individually.
Keywords : pruritus, geriatrik, yaşlılık, prurigo