Conservative therapy significantly reduces patients’ chronic venous disease symptoms: A Caribbean insight into the VEIN Act Program

Abstract

Objectives We sought to determine the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) across the Caribbean, and to evaluate patients’ compliance to conservative therapy and the effectiveness of such therapy in reducing patients’ CVD symptoms. Method Patients were enrolled into the VEIN Act Program, and their demographic data, CVD symptoms (and their intensity) and CEAP C-classification was recorded at the first visit. Patients were prescribed conservative therapy, and symptom intensity and patient compliance and satisfaction evaluated at a follow-up visit. Results We enrolled 193 patients into the study, most of which (76%) were female, between 39–78 years (80%) and within the C2-C4a classes (56.1%). Pain (61.1%) and heaviness (58.5%) were the most common symptoms. Patient compliance to the prescribed treatment was relatively high for all modalities (>75%) and most patients (92.1%) were at least somewhat satisfied with their treatment. Conclusions Patient compliance to conservative therapy for management of CVD is high across the Caribbean, and such therapy is effective in reducing intensity of CVD symptoms.

Investigating low rates of compliance to graduated compression therapy for chronic venous insufficiency: A systematic review

“…Despite the worsening of symptoms of CVI during hotter weather, there was no association found between climate and discomfort due to heat as a reason for non‐compliance. For example, a Caribbean study found that sweating was only a minor reason (9.1%) for non‐compliance 31 . In the same instance in a Abidjan (West Africa) study heat was not a reason, however, the work environment was selected by 8.7% of participants and it was found that the participants who were less compliant due to work environment were working at multiple sites 33 .…”

“…33 Compliance rates were generally highest in the studies where participants were prescribed GCT and were reviewed at a follow-up appointment between one week and three months after prescription. [29][30][31]39 There was a correlation found between disease severity and likelihood of compliancy, where with VLUs participants were more compliant than participants with earlier stages of CVI. [35][36][37][38][39]43 Another study that only interviewed participants who were always noncompliant found that many participants did not know VVs were a condition with serious complications.…”

“…Soya et al (2017) followed 200 subjects over a 22‐month period and found that compliance rates were initially 58.5%, but this significantly decreased throughout the study to 11% 33 . Compliance rates were generally highest in the studies where participants were prescribed GCT and were reviewed at a follow‐up appointment between one week and three months after prescription 29–31,39 . There was a correlation found between disease severity and likelihood of compliancy, where with VLUs participants were more compliant than participants with earlier stages of CVI 35–39,43 .…”

“…[29][30][31][32][33][36][37][38][39][40][41] In 64% of the included studies, female was the predominant sex that participated. 5,[29][30][31][32]34,36,41,42 One study did not record the sex. 39 The literature search revealed diverse reasons for non-compliance, with significant overlap between the studies.…”

A nationwide study of compliance of venoactive drugs in chronic venous disease patients

“…Pharmacological treatment with venoactive drugs (VADs) can improve venous tone and contractility, reduce edema and inflammation, and improve microcirculation [ 2 ]. The main modes of action of VADs are decreasing capillary permeability and reducing release of inflammatory mediators [ 1 ].…”