Relationship between quality of life and the CEAP clinical classification in chronic venous disease.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic venous disease (CVD) and to analyze the relationship between QOL and disease severity.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 50 participants with a diagnosis of CVD. The participants were classified according to disease severity using the CEAP clinical classification (Clinical manifestations, Etiological factors, Anatomical distribution of disease, Pathophysiological findings). They were then divided into two groups: CEAP 1, 2 and 3 (less clinically compromised) and CEAP 4, 5 and 6 (more clinically compromised). QOL was evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the SF-36 scores between the groups. The Spearman correlation was used to evaluate the association between QOL and the CEAP. Differences were considered statistically significant with p < 0.05. The SPSS statistical software version 16.0 was used for the analyses.
RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of the sample was female. The mean age was significantly higher (p<0.001) among participants classified as CEAP 4, 5 and 6 (56.6+/-10.3) than among those classified as CEAP 1, 2 and 3 (40.6+/-10.7). All the domains of the physical component of the SF-36 presented significantly lower scores in the CEAP 4, 5 and 6 group (p<0.05), thus showing greater physical and functional impairment. Only the domains of the physical component presented statistically significant negative correlations with the CEAP.
CONCLUSIONS: The physical and functional characteristics were more impaired, especially in the more severe forms of CVD. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the effects of CVD on QOL and better management of therapeutic interventions in this population.