Abstract
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyse the medical indication and the use of elastic compression stockings, and to assess patient adherence to treatment in different regions of Brazil.MethodThe prescription and clinical indication of elastic stockings were evaluated in a prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre study for a population of private patients. In 2009, 3414 patients from 123 treatment centres in southern, south-eastern and north-eastern Brazil were evaluated using a questionnaire. The following variables were analysed: sociodemographic (gender, age, occupation and education), lifestyle (physical activity and time spent standing); classification of venous disease (CEAP [clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathophysiological] classification – clinical criteria), indications for prescription, consumer behaviour (strength, acquisition and use of stockings) and criteria of satisfaction (improvement, duration of use, adherence). The effects of compression therapy were assessed at a follow-up visit approximately 30 days after starting treatment with the following items being assessed: complaints about pain, discomfort, burning sensation and oedema of the leg while using elastic stockings. Multivariate analysis was used to compare data with an alpha error of 5% (P value < 0.05) being considered acceptable.ResultsThe average age increased with the severity of chronic venous insufficiency; the main indications used by physicians were leg pain and discomfort; 89.3% of patients bought stockings and thus started treatment with more than 90% of these reporting improvements in symptoms.ConclusionElastic stockings are available to the Brazilian population, look acceptable at the time of purchase and provide good results; however, some limitations regarding their use need to be addressed.
Highlights
The clinical signs of chronic venous disorders (CVDs) of the lower extremities range from small varicose veins to venous ulcers
Multivariate analysis demonstrated that there is no association between the severity of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) according to the CEAP classification and gender, except for CEAP C1 where it was found that 15% of women and 8% of men had only telangiectasias and reticular veins
On comparing clinical severity according to the CEAP classification and age, multivariate analysis demonstrated that the severity of CVI increased as the age increased (Table 2)
Summary
The clinical signs of chronic venous disorders (CVDs) of the lower extremities range from small varicose veins to venous ulcers. Accepted 31 January 2011 ulceration.[1,2,3] Due to this diversity of clinical presentations, venous disorders are categorized by the clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathophysiological (CEAP) classification system.[4]. This classification comprises six degrees of severity with grade I being the least severe form of the disease (telangiectasias and reticular veins) and grade VI being the presence of active venous ulcers.
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