[Evaluation of a standardized questionnaire to screen for venous diseases].

The frequency of venous diseases makes a simple screening method desirable. The aim of this study was to evaluate a questionnaire as a screening instrument for varicose veins as compared to venous refilling time measured by photoplethysmography. In 1830 industrial employees a survey and a photoplethysmography were performed. According to the venous refilling time (vRT), patients were classified as "healthy" or "morbid". The answers were compared. In 31.9% a pathological vRT < or =25 seconds was found. The prevalence of a pathological vRT increased with age. The survey answers referring to venous disease in their parents, thrombophlebitis, leg swelling, leg heaviness, hyperpigmentation and visible varicosities were able to distinguish between persons with physiological and pathological vRT. The questionnaire acquired a specificity of >90% if symptoms were characterized as "repeatedly"/"marked". There was significant concordance between the questionnaire answers and the vRT measurement. Thus, both methods are applicable for screening of venous disease. Particularly, the questionnaire allows a simple, patient-based estimation of the individual risk.