Patients and physicians agree only partially in symptoms and clinical findings before and after treatment for varicose veins

Abstract

Objective Quality improvement in surgery has mainly been based on clinical database outcomes. This study compared variables from the patient-reported Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire with the Danish Clinical Vein Database, in order to reveal agreements and differences in symptoms and clinical findings. Methods In the period January-March 2011, 379 legs in 287 patients treated for varicose veins were registered in the Danish Clinical Vein Database and compared to the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire. Results Patients and physicians agreed in reduction of symptoms after intervention with one or more complaints still present in 128 (93%) patients according to Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire compared to the Danish Clinical Vein Database with only 64 (47%) patients. Patients reported cosmetic complaints and teleangiectasies both before and after treatment (p < 0.001) more often than doctors. Conclusion The Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire has added valuable information to the dialogue between the doctor and patient on which symptoms expecting to improve and which not.

Polidocanol-foam treatment of varicose veins: Quality-of-life impact compared to conventional surgery

“…Previous studies have independently associated these two aspects with lower quality-of-life scores specific to varicose veins, irrespective of the severity of venous disease. 25 , 32 , 33 , 34 Furthermore, in many circumstances, the age of patients and the severity of comorbidities (such as obesity) may be contraindications to traditional surgical procedures but not to sclerotherapy. Therefore, especially in the public health system, many patients (who already have a lower quality of life due to their clinical characteristics) end up receiving sclerotherapy as their only interventional treatment option.…”

Varicose Veins and Associated Risk Factors among Women in the Childbearing Period in Benha city, Egypt: A cross-sectional study

“…Our findings were in line with the results of Yun et al (16) in Korea, who used compression stockings for management purposes, while the Klitfod study found that 31% of patients were treated surgically, which was different from the present results. This difference may be related to the nature of the Klitfod study, as it measured the effects of different methods of treatment on relieving the symptoms of patients with VV (17) .…”