Factor analysis of subjective descriptors of chronic pruritus and association with quality of life: A cross-sectional survey

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Robin Rolader, Emory University; Taryn M DeGrazia, Emory University; Chao Zhang, Emory University; Gil Yosipovitch, University of Miami; Suephy Chen, Emory University; Howa Yeung, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-06-01
• Publisher: MOSBY-ELSEVIER
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.01.037
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
• Volume: 82
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 1519
• End Page: 1521
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported in part by the VA Rehab Research and Development Merit Review (Project Number F4529I) under “Veteran Impact of Chronic Pruritus: the skin equivalent of chronic pain” and by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number UL1TR002378 and KL2TR002381(H.Y.).
• Keywords: Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; Dermatology

Abstract

Chronic pruritus is common with substantial quality-of-life (QOL) impact. Existing surveys capture multiple itch characteristics, but limited data provide empirical evidence on how aspects of itch characteristics inform itch-related QOL. To address this gap, we aimed to identify latent factors (hidden combinations of itch characteristics) from subjective itch descriptors that predict impact on QOL. In a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey of 405 US veterans reporting chronic pruritus lasting >6 weeks1, we identified latent factors within 45 subjective itch descriptors as measured by the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Pruritus (QAP)2. Latent factors were empirically derived from observed itch descriptors using exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation. Latent factors were correlated with itch-specific QOL impact as measured by ItchyQoL3 total score and domain scores using multivariable linear regression, adjusting for significant sociodemographic differences. P<0.05 in 2-sided tests was considered significant.