Skip to content

Study · Observational study · n = 16 · 2026

1 result

Reduction of pruritus and depression using longitudinal patient-reported outcome measures in hemodialysis: a quality improvement project.

Naar L, Mussnig S, Niknam J, Brosch F, Krenn S, Mayer CC, Beige J, Hecking M

Journal of patient-reported outcomes21 Jan 2026Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID41563679 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC12827871 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1186/s41687-026-01003-6 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41563679
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 1 result

Summary

IMPORTANCE: Chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus (CKD-aP) and depression are common but often underrecognized and undertreated in hemodialysis (HD) patients, lowering quality of life and worsening outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the systematic, repeated collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) integrated into a Plan-Do-Act-Study (PDAS) framework could enhance recognition of CKD-aP and depression and guide treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: 127 adult patients receiving thrice-weekly in-center HD were included. PROMs were captured electronically at predefined phases. INTERVENTIONS: During Adjustment phases, individualized symptom reports were reviewed by physicians, prompting initiation of difelikefalin for CKD-aP or referral to psychiatric care for depressive symptoms. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Changes in itch (Worst-Itch Numerical Rating Scale, WI-NRS) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9) and concordance between patients and nurses. RESULTS: At baseline, 32% of patients versus 9% of nurses reported pruritus (κ = 0.18) and 27% versus 6% reported depression (κ = 0.19). Following PROM-guided interventions, 16 patients initiated difelikefalin (median WI-NRS reduction of 3 points, p < 0.001) and five were referred for psychiatric care (median PHQ-9 reduction of 4.5 points, p = 0.015). Patient–nurse agreement improved to κ = 0.66 for pruritus and κ = 0.65 for depression at study end. Ratings of assessment adequacy rose from 38% to 67% among patients and from 55% to 75% among nurses. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Routine, repeated PROMs markedly improved recognition of CKD-aP and depression, enabled targeted therapy with meaningful relief, and strengthened patient-staff alignment. This PDAS-based strategy supports KDIGO guidance and merits broader adoption to advance patient-centered dialysis care.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. 1 result from people.

  1. 01HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In haemodialysis patients starting difelikefalin, median WI-NRS decreased by 3 points after PROM-guided treatment (p < 0.001).

    In plain wordsIn haemodialysis patients, itch scores decreased after difelikefalin treatment.

    Peptide
    Difelikefalin
    Outcome
    DecreaseWI-NRS reduction
    Study

    n = 16

    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Median WI-NRS reduction
    3 points
    reported result

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Following PROM-guided interventions, 16 patients initiated difelikefalin (median WI-NRS reduction of 3 points, p < 0.001)

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    28 Oct 2026, 02:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    27 Oct 2026, 16:35 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.