Correlation of Venous Clinical Severity Score With Dermatology Life Quality Index Among Patients With Chronic Venous Insufficiency: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is characterized by inadequate functioning of venous valves in the lower limb. CVI is associated with a significant reduction in patient’s quality of life (QOL). The severity of CVI was determined by CEAP (clinical, etiological, anatomical, pathophysiological) classification and venous clinical severity score (VCSS). The study is aimed to evaluate and correlate Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) with VCSS, CEAP in patients with CVI. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 57 patients with CVI was conducted over a period of 12 months. A sociographic survey, clinical and severity grading using CEAP classification, and VCSS were done for all venous doppler confirmed patients. QOL was evaluated by validated DLQI questionnaires using English and native languages Hindi and Marathi. Results: A total of 57 patients with a male to female ratio of 6.1:1 and a mean age of 51.68 years were included in the study. CEAP grading in patients showed 49.12% (C4a), 21.05% (C6), 15.7% (C4b), 7.01% (C3), 3.50% (C2 and C5). Mean VCSS and DLQI were 11.47 and 10.12, respectively; 49.12%, 40.35%, 10.53% of patients had a moderate, very large, and small impact on DLQI respectively, positively correlating to VCSS (P < 0.001). Conclusion: From this study, it was observed that VCSS and CEAP positively correlated with DLQI, and the impact increases in proportion with the seriousness of the disease.