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Chronic venous disorders: correlation between visible signs, symptoms, and presence of functional disease.
Chiesa R, Marone EM, Limoni C, Volontè M, Petrini O. J Vasc Surg. 2007 Aug;46(2):322-30. Epub 2007 Jun 27
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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of chronic venous disorders (CVD) in different demographic groups in Italy and to provide correlations between patterns of valve incompetence and clinical feature of disease severity.
METHODS: Advertisements in television and newspapers in 53 Italian cities were used to solicit 16,251 subjects (13,826 women, mean age 50.4 years; 2,425 men, mean age 59.1 years). They underwent a clinical examination of the lower limbs, including presence and severity of visible signs (CEAP classification), and assessment of functional disease by color-coded duplex ultrasound imaging.
RESULTS: Varicose veins and telangiectases were the most common objective signs in both men and women. Older people were more severely affected. Telangiectases were more frequent in women, and men had a higher incidence of trunk varices, trophic changes, and venous reflux. Frequency of both visible and functional venous disease increased with family history and body mass index. Presence of reflux correlated positively with increasing CEAP grade of visible disease (Pfor trend < .0001 for all superficial venous segments). A large number of subjects, especially women, complained of subjective symptoms in the legs, and the presence of symptoms correlated almost always positively with both worsening of visible findings (P for trend < .001) and presence of hemodynamic change in both genders.
CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of reflux increased with the severity of visible signs of disease as described by the CEAP classification. In men, the occurrence of subjective symptoms was mostly correlated with functional disorders.
BACKGROUND: The etiology of chronic venous disease in the lower limbs is unclear, and very limited data are available on potential risk factors from representative population studies.
METHODS: Participants in the San Diego Population Study, a free-living adult population randomly selected from age, sex, and ethnic strata, were systematically assessed for risk factors for venous disease. Categorization of normal, moderate, and severe disease was determined hierarchically through clinical examination and ultrasonography imaging by trained vascular technologists, who also performed anthropometric measures. An interviewer administered a questionnaire and an examination assessed potential risk factors for venous disease suggested by previous reports.
RESULTS: In multivariable models, moderate venous disease was independently related to age, a family history of venous disease, previous hernia surgery, and normotension in both sexes. In men, current walking, the absence of cardiovascular disease, and not moving after sitting were also predictive. Additional predictors in women were weight, number of births, oophorectomy, flat feet, and not sitting. For severe disease, age, family history of venous disease, waist circumference, and flat feet were predictive in both sexes. In men, occupation as a laborer, cigarette smoking, and normotension were also independently associated with severe venous disease. Additional significant and independent predictors in women were hours standing, history of leg injury, number of births, and cardiovascular disease, but African American ethnicity was protective. Multiple other postulated risk factors for venous disease were not significant in multivariable analysis in this population.
CONCLUSIONS: Although some risk factors for venous disease such as age, family history of venous disease, and findings suggestive of ligamentous laxity (hernia surgery, flat feet) are immutable, others can be modified, such as weight, physical activity, and cigarette smoking. Overall, these data provide modest support for the potential of behavioral risk-factor modification to prevent chronic venous disease.
The purpose of this article is to propose a screening procedure to assess venous insufficiency with a hand-held photoplethysmography (PPG) instrument in the clinical setting. PPG is noninvasive technology that is used as part of venous assessment of the lower extremities. Although duplex ultrasound remains the industry gold standard for assessment, there are many situations in which access or expertise is not available. The measurement of venous refill time with PPG, one measure of venous insufficiency, is becoming increasingly more prevalent in research settings; however, PPG is underused in clinical settings. Rapid venous refill time </= 20 seconds is associated with chronic venous disorders, and its measurement in clinical settings as a screening mechanism may provide useful data to augment diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. Future research is needed to establish a best-practice guideline for venous assessment in clinical settings to validate using PPG.
The standing heel-rise test: relation to chronic venous disorders and balance, gait, and walk time in injection drug users.
Pieper B, Templin TN, Birk TJ, Kirsner RS. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2008 Sep;54(9):18-22, 24, 26-30
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Injection drug use can impair mobility. When mobility is impaired in combination with other potential pathologic changes to the veins, muscles, and joints of the lower legs, chronic venous disorders can develop. The heel-rise test, an assessment of eccentric-concentric muscle action of calf muscle function with regard to plantar flexion, can be used to measure ankle mobility. To examine the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the heel-rise test in relation to chronic venous disorders in persons with a history of injection drug use (N = 104), a test-retest study (M = 45.9+/-12.9 days from first to second test) was conducted. Participants were assessed for chronic venous disorders of the legs and walk time; they also completed the heel-rise and Tinetti Balance and Gait tests. Test-retest reliability was found to be good for full heel rise of right and left legs (ICC = .66 and .67, respectively). Heel-rise performance was positively correlated with balance (r = .38 to .47) and gait (r = .38 to .45) and negatively related to walk time (r = -.30 to -.35) (P <0.01). Participants who injected in the groin, legs, or feet performed fewer heel rises than those who injected in the arms and upper body only or those who did not inject drugs. Chronic venous disorders accounted for 7% to 17% of the variance in heel rise. The heel-rise test as a measure of calf muscle function is supported by these results, implicating the role of mobility restriction in the etiology of venous disease. Although more research is needed regarding its performance, the heel-rise test may be a low-cost, noninvasive screening or assessment tool in a variety of outpatient settings.
Sign and symptoms of chronic venous disorders
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