Research Information System
Turkiye Klinikleri Cardiovascular Sciences, vol.28, no.3, pp.85-89, 2016 (Scopus)
Copyright © 2016 by Türkiye Klinikleri.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between severity of venous insufficiency and body mass index (BMI) in patients who were referred for a Doppler ultrasonography examination with clinical diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency. Material and Methods: 200 patients with a complaint of lower extremity venous insufficiency were examined prospectively. The patients were categorized according to the clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification. Lower extremity venous Doppler findings were recorded. Fourteen of these patients were excluded due to deep venous thrombosis. The belly/hip ratio and BMI of the remaining 186 were recorded. Presence, duration and rate of reflux, and location and number of segments with reflux were recorded. Three groups were formed according to BMI severity (normal weight: 18.5-24.9 kg/m, overweight: 25-29.9 kg/m, and obese: ≥ 30 kg/m). These groups were evaluated for CEAP, and presence and severity of reflux. Results: There were 61 men (32.1%) and 129 women (67.9%) with a range of age 15-83 (mean: 48.1±12.4) years and BMI range of 19.1-52.0 (mean: 29.8±6.1). No statistically significant relationship was noted among the CEAP categories and BMI groups. There was statistically significant relationship between number of vessels with reflux and CEAP patient groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: BMI is not associated with severity of venous insufficiency. But the number of veins with reflux is strongly associated with severity of venous insufficiency.