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-C_4a 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.