Notalgia paresthetica: factors associated with its perceived severity, duration, side, and localization

Background: Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a disorder characterized by pruritus localized to the patient's back. Little is known about predictors of severity, duration, side, and localization. Objective: To identify factors associated with perceived severity, duration, side, and localization of NP. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, disease severity, duration, side, and localization were compared among the considered variables. Multivariate analysis was used to assess each variable contribution in predicting disease severity and its duration. Results: Sixty-five patients were recruited. Disease involved more female than male patients (Female/Male: 1.6) and after adjusting for all potential confounders, it was perceived as more severe in females (OR = 7.3, 95% CI = 2–26.3, P < 0.01). NP was reported more frequently on the right side among patients sleeping on the left side and conversely (P < 0.05). A higher disease duration was significantly linked to a higher body mass index (OR = 4.8, 95% CI = 1.3–17.1, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study linked female gender to worse disease severity, a higher body mass index to longer disease duration, and prevailing sleep position to NP side expression. The sleeping position should be considered a possible target for treating the disease.