Symptoms in patients with skin changes due to chronic venous insufficiency often lead to emergency care service: an Italian observational study.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is the most advanced form of chronic venous disease (CVD), and is often associated with skin changes such as hyperpigmentation, eczema, lipodermatosclerosis and venous skin ulceration that cause discomfort, pain, sleep disturbances, absenteeism in the workplace, disability and deteriorated quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of CVI and skin changes in patients who turn to Continuous Assistance Services due to the presence of disturbing symptoms of their condition. Data were evaluated by consulting the medical records, during a 16-month period, available with three Continuous Assistance Services of the Italian territory. The overall population of the referring centres consisted of 1186 patients [739 females (62·31%) and 447 males (37·69%)]. Seventy-nine patients (6·66%) consulted the emergency unit for venous symptoms related to CVD. Patients with more severe disease (CVI, categories C4-C6) represented the majority accounting for 60·75%, while patients with moderate disease (C3) accounted for 35·44% and patients with mild disease (C1-C2 stages) accounted for 3·79%. The main finding of this study is that despite CVI not being a disease that commonly requires medical emergency/urgency intervention, patients with CVI, especially in advanced stage with skin changes, may turn to Continuous Assistance Service for treating bothersome symptoms related to their condition.
Department of Surgery, Annunziata Hospital of Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy.
Michele
M
Ruggiero
Department of Primary Care, Provincial Health Authority of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. raffaele.eia@alice.it.
Raffaele
R
Grande
Department of Primary Care, Provincial Health Authority of Vibo Valentia, Vibo Valentia, Italy.
Agostino
A
Naso
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Lucia
L
Butrico
Department of Surgery, 'Pugliese-Ciaccio' Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy.
Paolo
P
Rubino
Department of Surgery, 'Pugliese-Ciaccio' Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy.
Girolamo Domenico
GD
Placida
Department of Surgery, Annunziata Hospital of Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy.
Marco
M
Cannistrà
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Raffaele
R
Serra
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*
Chronic venous disease; Chronic venous insufficiency; Continuous Assistance Services; Skin changes; Venous symptoms