Evaluation of therapeutic compression stockings in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency

BACKGROUND. Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) affects a significant portio n of the world's population, causing substantial morbidity and medical expe nditure. Its pathophysiology is based on venous hypertension in the lower e xtremities, with vascular compression therapy remaining the foundation of i ts medical management. OBJECTIVE. TO evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic compression stockin gs in the treatment of lower extremity CVI. METHODS. A group of 112 patients with CVI received graduated-compression st ockings and rated the severity of their symptoms on a five-point scale befo re wearing the stockings, and then again after 1 and 16 months of treatment . Patient complaints associated with stocking use and patient compliance ra tes were also recorded at 1 and 16 months. RESULTS. A statistically significant improvement (p < 0.001) was reported i n patient severity scores for lower extremity swelling, pain, skin discolor ation, activity tolerance, depression and sleeping problems after 1 and 16 months of treatment with compression stockings. CONCLUSION. Therapeutic graduated-compression stockings are an effective tr eatment for CVI of the lower extremities.