BACKGROUND: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) affects a significant portion of the world's population, causing substantial morbidity and medical expenditure. Its pathophysiology is based on venous hypertension in the lower extremities, with vascular compression therapy remaining the foundation of its medical management. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic compression stockings in the treatment of lower extremity CVI. METHODS: A group of 112 patients with CVI received graduated-compression stockings and rated the severity of their symptoms on a five-point scale before wearing the stockings, and then again after 1 and 16 months of treatment. Patient complaints associated with stocking use and patient compliance rates were also recorded at 1 and 16 months. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001) was reported in patient severity scores for lower extremity swelling, pain, skin discoloration, activity tolerance, depression and sleeping problems after 1 and 16 months of treatment with compression stockings. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic graduated-compression stockings are an effective treatment for CVI of the lower extremities.
BACKGROUND:Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) affects a significant portion of the world's population, causing substantial morbidity and medical expenditure. Its pathophysiology is based on venous hypertension in the lower extremities, with vascular compression therapy remaining the foundation of its medical management. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic compression stockings in the treatment of lower extremity CVI. METHODS: A group of 112 patients with CVI received graduated-compression stockings and rated the severity of their symptoms on a five-point scale before wearing the stockings, and then again after 1 and 16 months of treatment. Patient complaints associated with stocking use and patient compliance rates were also recorded at 1 and 16 months. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001) was reported in patient severity scores for lower extremity swelling, pain, skin discoloration, activity tolerance, depression and sleeping problems after 1 and 16 months of treatment with compression stockings. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic graduated-compression stockings are an effective treatment for CVI of the lower extremities.