title: The use of compression stockings for venous disorders in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse the medical indication and the use of elastic compression stockings, and to assess patient adherence to treatment in different regions of Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prescription and clinical indication of elastic stockings were evaluated in a prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre study for a population of private patients. In 2009, 3414 patients from 123 treatment centres in southern, south-eastern and north-eastern Brazil were evaluated using a questionnaire. The following variables were analysed: sociodemographic (gender, age, occupation and education), lifestyle (physical activity and time spent standing); classification of venous disease (CEAP [clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathophysiological] classification--clinical criteria), indications for prescription, consumer behaviour (strength, acquisition and use of stockings) and criteria of satisfaction (improvement, duration of use, adherence). The effects of compression therapy were assessed at a follow-up visit approximately 30 days after starting treatment with the following items being assessed: complaints about pain, discomfort, burning sensation and oedema of the leg while using elastic stockings. Multivariate analysis was used to compare data with an alpha error of 5% (P value < 0.05) being considered acceptable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age increased with the severity of chronic venous insufficiency; the main indications used by physicians were leg pain and discomfort; 89.3% of patients bought stockings and thus started treatment with more than 90% of these reporting improvements in symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elastic stockings are available to the Brazilian population, look acceptable at the time of purchase and provide good results; however, some limitations regarding their use need to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Service of Peripheral Vascular Disease, University of Campinas UNICAMP, Brazil. cataldojl@uol.com.br
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cataldo
authors.forename: J M Pereira
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Godoy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Barros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D014680:Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy