Prevalence of Chronic Venous Diseases in Students of Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University

Abstract

The Objective of the Research was to increase the frequency of detecting chronic venous disorders in young people by surveing the students using a specially designed questionnaire with an analysis of its results for timely treatment.
 Materials and Methods. To detect lower extremity chronic venous disorders, 1,007 students of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University were interviewed using questionnaire that was based on the VEIN-TERM, the Venous Clinical Severity Score, the Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality of Life Questionnaire. In the surveyed people, there were estimated the following data: age; gender; objective symptoms of chronic venous disorders such as telangiectasia, reticular (spider) veins, varicose veins and leg swelling; 11 most common symptoms of chronic venous disorders; risk factors such as the presence of lower extremity varicose veins in parents, previous childbirth and frequent or rare use of high heels in females.
 Results. In 617 (61.3%; 95 CI, 58.2 - 64.3%) respondents, phlebopathy was detected; 63 (6.3%, 95 CI 4.8 - 7.9%) students reported lower extremity telangiectasias; 11 (1.1%; 95 CI 0.5 - 1.9%) students reported reticular veins. Varicose veins were detected in 33 (3.3%; 95 CI 2.3 - 4.6%) cases. Among them, there were 14 (1.4%, 95 CI 0.8 - 2.3%) cases of leg swelling. Only two symptoms, namely calf cramps (p=0.01) and leg pain (p=0.04) turned out to occur significantly more frequent in the respondents with varicose veins. Varicose veins were more often found in the students whose fathers suffered from varicose veins as compared to those whose mothers had varicose veins – 12.1% (95% CI 5.4 - 22.5%) versus 4.2% (95% CI 2.1 - 7.5%), respectively (p=0.008). Among females without lower extremity varicose veins, 34.1% (95% CI 29.7 - 38.3%) of the respondents indicated wearing high heels (above 5 cm) which was approximately 3 times more often as compared to female respondents with varicose veins - 11.2% (95% CI 0.0 - 21.7%) of women (p=0.001).
 Conclusions. 1. Leg pain and calf cramps can be considered as the most important subjective symptoms for early diagnosis of lower extremity varicose veins in young people. 2. The presence of lower extremity varicose veins in a father results in higher risk of detecting this pathology in the respondent than the presence of lower extremity varicose veins in a mother: 12.1% (95% CI 5.4-22.5%) versus 4.2% (95% CI 2.1 - 7.5%) (p = 0.008). 3. Early diagnostics of lower extremity varicose veins in young people with the aim of further adequate treatment to prevent their progression and the development of complications can be implemented by questioning students in different educational institutions.