Prurigo nodularis (PN), a pruritic dermatosis that itches intensely and can reduce quality of life, disproportionately affects African Americans and is associated with several systemic conditions including HIV, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes, according to a recent study. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of patients aged ≥18 years seen at the Johns Hopkins Health System (JHHS) between December 6, 2012, and December 6, 2017. They found:

• Over the last 5 years, 909 patients with PN were seen at JHHS.
• African American patients were 3.4 times more likely to have PN than white patients.
• PN was significantly associated with a variety of systemic, cardiovascular, and psychiatric comorbidities when compared to race-matched controls, including chronic kidney disease, chronic hepatitis C, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, depression, and atopic dermatitis.
• Black patients with PN were 10.5 times more likely to have HIV than race-matched controls with atopic dermatitis, and 8 times more likely to have HIV than African American patients with psoriasis.