Relationship between Renal Osteodystrophy, Pain, Pruritus, and Comfort in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to determine renal osteodystrophy, pain, pruritus, and comfort level in hemodialysis patients and examine the relationship between them and the affecting factors. Methods: The study population consisted of 244 hemodialysis patients in the province of X and its districts, and the sample consisted of 163 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a Patient Identification Form, the 5-D Itch Scale, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the Hemodialysis Comfort Scale Version II. Results: The mean age of the patients was 62.07 +/- 13.51 years. According to parathormone levels, 26.4% had low bone turn over renal osteodystrophy, 30.7% had normal bone turnover, and 42.9% had high bone turn over renal osteodystrophy. The total score on the comfort scale was 99.96 +/- 12.28. According to the Brief Pain Inventory, the mean pain level in the last 24 hours was 2.13 +/- 2.10, and the 5-D Itch Scale score was 8.26 +/- 374. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the comfort scale score and the mean pain score (r=-0.409, P < .001) and the itch scale score (r=-0.181, P = .021). A positive significant correlation was determined between the itch scale score and the mean pain score (r = 0.292, P < .001). There was a positive relationship between the mean pain score and P level (r = 0.167, P = .033), a positive relationship between the itch scale score and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (r = 0.160, P = .041), and a positive relationship with creatinine (r = 0.157, P = .045). Conclusion: It was observed that elevated phosphorus increased pain and that elevated BUN and creatinine increased pruritus. It was determined that pain and pruritus negatively affected patient comfort and that pruritus increased the pain score.