Relationship between Uremic Pruritus and Hemodialysis Adequacy in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease at RSUD NTB

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a condition of progressive kidney function impairment that requires renal replacement therapy such as hemodialysis. Uremic pruritus is one of the symptoms experienced by more than 40% CKD patients who require hemodialysis. Hemodialysis adequacy is measured by the clearance time/volume of distribution value (Kt/V) or urea reduction ratio and is a crucial determinant of clinical outcomes for chronic hemodialysis patients. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between uremic pruritus and adequacy of hemodialysis in patients with CKD. Methods: This study is an observational analytical study using a case-control design conducted in the hemodialysis room and the medical record unit of RSUD NTB from January to October 2025. Respondents were hemodialysis patients who met several inclusion criteria. Data were collected from the 5D itch scale questionnaire and Kt/V value, and analyzed with the Chi-Square test. Results: There were 93 patients; pruritus was present in 40 and absent in 53. Two patients had adequate dialysis with pruritus, 12 had adequate dialysis without pruritus, 38 had inadequate dialysis with pruritus, and 41 had inadequate dialysis without pruritus. The Chi-square test showed a statistically significant association (p = 0.019; OR = 5.60; 95% CI = 1.17–26.43). Conclusion: There is a statistically significant association between hemodialysis adequacy and uremic pruritus in CKD patients at RSUD NTB.