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Table 3 Dialysis parameters (whole study population) in patients with and without chronic itch (n = 860)

From: Laboratory and dialysis characteristics in hemodialysis patients suffering from chronic itch - results from a representative cross-sectional study

 

Chronic itch (lifetime prevalence)

Total

Yes (n = 307)

No (n = 553)

(n = 860)

Dialysis vintage

Mean

Mean

Mean

 Start of dialysis treatment, months ± SDa

70.4 ± 70.1*

50.8 ± 45.5*

57.5 ± 56.2

 Duration of weekly dialysis treatment, hours ± SD

13.0 ± 1.3

12.9 ± 1.3

12.9 ± 1.3

Method of dialysis treatment (n = 851)

Relative frequency, % (n)

Relative frequency, % (n)

Relative frequency, % (n)

 Hemodialysis

80.1 (246)

81.3 (442)

80.8 (688)

 Online hemodiafiltration (post-dilution)

17.3 (53)

17.1 (93)

17.2 (146)

 Online hemodiafiltration (pre-dilution)

2.6 (8)

1.7 (9)

2.0 (17)

Dialyzers used (n = 850)

   

 Low-flux

8.8 (27)

12.7 (69)

11.3 (96)

 High-flux

91.2 (279)

87.3 (475)

88.7 (754)

Dialyzer membrane (n = 848)

   

 Polysulfone

57.8 (175)**

66.2 (369)

63.3 (544)

 Polyethersulfone

10.2 (31)

9.7 (54)

9.9 (85)

 Polyarylethersulfone

29.7 (90)***

21.7 (121)

24.5 (211)

 Polyacrylonitrile

-

0.2 (1)

0.1 (1)

 Polyester-polymer

-

-

 

 Polymethylmethacrylate

1.7 (5)

0.4 (2)

0.8 (7)

Sterilization technique, blood lines (n = 852)

   

 Beta radiation

37.5 (115)

38.2 (208)

37.9 (323)

 Gamma radiation

17.6 (54)

18.5 (101)

18.2 (155)

 Ethylene oxide

-

-

-

 Steam

45.0 (138)

43.3 (236)

43.9 (374)

Sterilization technique dialyzer (n = 852)

   

 Beta radiation

0.3 (1)

0.6 (3)

0.5 (4)

 Gamma radiation

19.2 (59)

20.6 (112)

20.1 (171)

 Ethylene oxide

 

-

-

 Steam

80.5 (247)

78.9 (430)

79.5 (677)

Dialysate temperature, mean ± SD (°C) (n = 860)

36.4 ± 0.2

36.4 ± 0.3

36.4 ± 0.3

  1. aSD: standard deviation
  2. *Significantly different at p < 0.05
  3. **Significantly lower than average at p < 0.05
  4. ***Significantly higher than average at p < 0.05