Does Increased Body Mass Index Cause Pain and Impact Overall Quality of Life in Case of Venous Insufficiency?

Abstract

Objective: Chronic venous insufficiency is the most common vascular disease of the lower extremity. It is predicted that obesity, which is one of the risk factors of venous insufficiency, would influence the clinical appearance of the disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in pain scores and overall quality of life of patients with venous insufficiency, according to body mass index.
Materials and Methods: Patients (n:63) who applied to the sports medicine clinic with lower extremity pain, and were found to have venous insufficiency in examinations were included in the study. After noting their demographic data, patients’ height and body weight measurements were performed and body mass indices calculated. The patients were divided into four groups based on their body mass index (BMI). The visual analog scale and the EQ5D quality of life scale were then applied to the patients.
Results: According to their BMI, there were 16 patients in Group 1 (22.6 kg/m²), 23 patients in Group 2 (27.5 kg/m²), 17 patients in Group 3 (32.6 kg/m²), and seven patients in Group 4 (37.5 kg/m²). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic data or degree of venous insufficiency. The visual analog scale score and the EQ5D score were 4.1 ± 2.9 and 0.7 ± 0.2 in Group 1; 4.7 ± 2.9 and 0.6 ± 0.3 in Group 2; 6.3 ± 2.1 and 0.5 ± 0.1 in Group 3; and 7.9 ± 2 and 0.3 ± 0.2 in Group 4, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of their EQ5D score (p:0.01). Although visual analog scale score increased in parallel with body mass index, there was no statistically significant difference (p:0.055). Body mass index was found to be negatively and moderately correlated with pain (p:0.004, r: -0.40) and overall quality of life (p:0.003, r: -0.40).
Conclusions: This study revealed that the increase in body mass index affects pain and quality of life independently of the severity of insufficiency.

Cite this article as: Ercan S, Cetin C. Does increased body mass index cause pain and impact overall quality of life in case of venous insufficiency? Turk J Sports Med. 2017;52:127-32.
*Bu çalışma, “Venöz yetmezlikli hastalarda kalf kası egzersizlerinin venöz fonksiyona ve kas gücüne etkisi (The effect of calf muscle exercises on venous functions and muscle strength in patients with chronic venous insufficiency)” başlıklı tıpta uzmanlık tezinden üretilmiştir.

Many thanks to Prof. Dr. Turhan YAVUZ for his assistance in photoplethysmography measurements.