Management of the patients with varicose veins: At which extend do family physicians involve in it?

Abstract

Objective: Aim of this study is to define the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of the patients with varicose veins who have applied to their family physicians for any reason and to determine the scope of varicose vein management in primary care.

Methods: This descriptive study has been conducted in six family health units settled in five family health centres and one integrated district hospital from different regions of Turkey between September 2013 and January 2014. One hundred and three patients of all ages who have applied to these units and have previously diagnosed as varicose vein or detected during current encounter have been included in the study. Patients’ data have been collected by the researchers with face to face interviews using a questionnaire of 19 questions.

Results: Mean age of the patients was 55.0±14.7 (interval, 21-89 years); 74.8% of them were female and 25.2% male. All the patients were previously diagnosed as varicose veins by a cardiovascular surgeon. None of the patients had a control visit to family physicians except for getting prescription. The most common reasons for encounter were pain in the leg (93.2%) and swelling in the leg (75.2%). In addition to varicose veins 36.8% of patients had hypertension and 20.3% diabetes. The most commonly used drugs were purified micronized flavonoid fraction (23.3%) and calcium besilat (17.5%); 47.6% of the patients never used compression socks. As the age increased the patients had more complaints (p=0.02) and the frequency of control visits decreased (p=0.004). Foot pain was more common in women than in men (p=0.005). The more educated patients had more control visits (p=0.01) and housewives (p=0.01) and those graduated from primary school (p=0.02) had more complaints.

Conclusion: Varicose vein management in primary care in the study area is not sufficient. All the varicose veins are diagnosed by specialists from the related branch of medicine and the patients use primary care facilities for getting prescription only. Varicose veins are seen in women three times more prevalent than in men. As the age increases the complaints of patients increase as well but the frequency of control visits decreases.