Long-Term Prevention of Sequelae of Chronic Venous Disease with Graduated-Compression Stockings

Abstract

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) with associated venous hypertension may lead to stasis dermatitis and ulceration. This sixty-month study determined whether compliance with the use of below-the-knee graduated-compression hosiery affected long-term clinical manifestations.

At one year, 105 patients of 284 (37%) were compliant and 179 (63%) were not. At 2 years, of the available compliant patients (89), none had skin changes; 28% of the available (51) noncompliant patients had skin changes; and 13 of this group (51) had ulceration. At sixty months, of 79 compliant patients available, none had ulceration and 11 had stasis changes. Of noncompliant patients (119) available for assessment, 63 (53%) have chronic skin changes.

Compliance with the use of gradient compression below-the-knee stockings reduces the incidence of venous stasis disease and ulceration.

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