Prevalence and characteristics of muscle cramps in patients with varicose veins

Background: It has been suggested that limb circulation may be disturbed in patients with muscle cramps due to leg venous hypertension. The aim of thi s study was to examine the incidence and characteristics of muscle cramps f rom venous insufficiency. Patients and methods: The incidence and characteristics of muscle cramps, w hich were investigated by a questionnaire, were compared between 288 patien ts with incompetence of the long or short saphenous vein and 550 age-matche d individuals from the general population. Results: The patient group showed a significantly higher incidence of muscl e cramps in the last year than the general population group, 67% and 53%, r espectively (p < 0.001). The incidence of calf cramps was significantly hig her in the patient group than in the general population group, 91% and 75%, respectively (p < 0.001). Although most subjects reported symptoms occurri ng only at night, the incidence was significantly higher in the patient gro up than in the general population group, 78% and 52%, respectively (p < 0.0 01). There was no significant difference in the duration or severity of mus cle cramps between the groups. The patient group showed a significantly hig her incidence of more than 12 episodes per year than the general population group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Muscle cramps in patients with varicose veins occur more frequ ently and more often at night and in the calf in comparison with those from the general population.