Compression therapy in elderly and overweight patients.

BACKGROUND: According to the current demography of the western population, age and weight will have increasing impact on medical therapies. The aim of the analysis was to examine if there are differences in the use of compression therapy depending on age and BMI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Questioning of 200 consecutive phlebological patients (C2-C6) with a compression therapy time of > 2 weeks. Analysis of 110 returned questionnaires. Sub-analysis according to age (≥ 60 years vs. < 60 years) and BMI (<25 kg/m2 vs. ≥25 kg/m2) were made.
RESULTS: Patients ≥ 60 years have a leg ulcer significantly more often than patients under 60 (20 % vs. 5.9 %, p = 0.03) and frequently need more help with the compression therapy (70.9 % vs. 47.1 %, p = 0.05). 14.6 % of those > 60 years even need the help of another person to apply compression. Patients ≥ 25 kg/m2 have an ulcer stocking significantly more often (15 % vs. 4.3 %, p = 0.05) and need the help of family members to put on the compression therapy (11.7 % vs. 2.1 %, p = 0.04). There is a tendency of patients ≥ 25 kg/m2 to complain more often about a constriction of compression therapy (35 % vs. 19.2 %, p = 0.06).
CONCLUSIONS: There are special aspects that have to be regarded for compression therapy in elderly and overweight patients. Data should encourage prescribers, sellers and manufacturers of compression therapy to use compression in a very differentiated way for these patients and to consider: Is the recommended compression therapy right for this patient (pressure, material, type)? What advice and adjuvants do the patients need to get along more easily with the compression therapy? Are there any new materials or adjuvants that allow those increasing groups of people to get along with compression therapy alone?