The aim is to update information on the prevalence of primary CVD in different geographic areas, to compare the management of the disease between countries, and to improve our understanding of the relationship between general practitioners and venous specialists, in order to propose a straightforward approach to earlier diagnosis. The survey was conducted in primary care centers as face-to-face interviews.
Complaints likely to be of venous origin and when they were most likely to occur were reported together with the presence of visible signs on the legs. All data were pooled according to geographic area.
Reported symptoms in order of importance were heaviness, pain, sensation of swelling, and night cramps, and were found to intensify mainly at the end of the day or after prolonged standing.
Symptoms significantly increased with age and with severity of disease. Patients consulting specially for venous problems had more severe signs compared with the whole sample.
Regarding costs, it appeared that CVD is responsible for large productivity losses, as well as the physical and psychological suffering of patients, which is reflected in worsened quality of life. CVD is a common condition that has a significant impact on both the individuals affected and the health care system. This includes people with venous symptoms but no visible or palpable signs of venous disease C 0S and those with telangiectasias or reticular veins. CVD is associated with a reduced quality of life.
