Largest Ever Epidemiological Survey in Chronic Venous Disease Including 70 000 Patients Shows The Importance of Early Management

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, September 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

"Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Venous Disease are Mandatory to Prevent Progression to More Severe Clinical Stages Including Venous Ulcers"

The VEIN CONSULT Program, the largest ever epidemiological survey in chronic venous disease carried out under the auspices of the International Union of Phlebology (UIP) and supported by an unrestricted grant from the Servier Research Group, is an international educational effort to raise awareness of CVD among patients, scientists, and health authorities. It is the first survey to screen a very large number of patients from many countries from various geographical areas (Europe, Middle East, Far East, Central and Latin America) using the same questionnaire and the same classification (CEAP classification).

The first results of the VEIN CONSULT Program shows that chronic venous disease has a significant negative impact on patients' professional lives, resulting in large productivity losses; 15% of chronic venous disease patients report loss of work days. CVD is also responsible for physical and psychological suffering of patients which is reflected in worsened quality of life. We observe a significant deterioration in quality of life with increasing severity of disease.  This directly impacts the costs related to CVD, nearly 4% of patients had had to change job because of their venous disease and more than 6% had had to be hospitalized.

For the first time, symptomatic patients are screened and CVD is detected right from the early stages, with the goal of improving the management process.

 Eight out of 10 patients suffer from chronic venous disease from the first venous pain to the most advanced stages such as edema and ulcer. Thanks to the VEIN CONSULT Program, we can evaluate for the first time the prevalence of CVD patients with symptoms only (leg pain, heaviness, sensation of swelling…). It shows that 20% of the first participants from several countries are classified as patients with symptoms only, while 61.2% are classified as patients with visible signs of chronic venous disease (varicosities, varicose veins, edema, and ulcer).

Patients do not consult spontaneously for leg pain and physicians don't consider venous pain as part of the disease. Despite the impact of chronic venous disease on costs and quality of life, chronic venous disease patients are still underdiagnosed and undertreated.

"Progression to later clinical stages because of delayed treatment may lead to loss of working days, lower quality of life, and higher global costs." said Professor Rabe, president of the International Union of Phlebology.

The VEIN CONSULT Program will run until 2012 in more than 20 countries. The results of the first 70 000 screened patients from 13 countries (Brazil, France, Georgia, Hungary, Mexico, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates) were presented during an entirely devoted session at the UIP Congress in Prague.

The UIP Scientific Committee

Notes to editor:

About the International Union of Phlebology (UIP)

The International Union of Phlebology is an international organisation whose goal is to advance excellence and innovation in venous and lymphatic diseases through education, advocacy and research.

The VEIN CONSULT Program is conducted under the auspices of the UIP and supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Servier Research Group.

References:

Rabe E. Update on the Vein Consult Program: the world's largest awareness programme in chronic venous disease. Abstract published as a supplement in Practical Phlebology, European chapter meeting of the UIP, Prague, Czech Republic, 14-17th September 2011.

Puskas A. First results from the 70 000 patients screened in primary health care in the Vein Consult Program. Abstract published as a supplement in Practical Phlebology, European chapter meeting of the UIP, Prague, Czech Republic, 14-17th September 2011.

Mansilha A. Quality of life and costs of chronic venous disease: first results from the Vein Consult Program. Abstract published as a supplement in Practical Phlebology, European chapter meeting of the UIP, Prague, Czech Republic, 14-17th September 2011.

Fernandez Quesada F. First results from the patients followed up by specialists in the Vein Consult Program. Abstract published as a supplement in Practical Phlebology, European chapter meeting of the UIP, Prague, Czech Republic, 14-17th September 2011.