FUNCTIONAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CLINICAL SEVERITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a highly prevalent disease with a broad clinical spectrum due to abnormalities of the venous system. However, the functional factors associated with the severity of the disease remain poorly understood. Objective: To identify the functional factors associated with the severity of CVI. Methods: Seventy-five patients with CVI (92.0% women, 49.6 ± 13.3 years) were evaluated through clinical examination, lower limb circumference measurements, ankle range of motion (ROM), and lower limb muscle strength. Patients were stratified according to disease severity: mild or severe CVI. Results: Patients with severe CVI (n=13) were older (p=0.002), predominantly male (p=0.007), with reduced dorsiflexion ROM (p=0.028), reduced ankle plantar flexor muscle strength as measured by the Toe-Point Test (p=0.040), and larger calf circumference (p=0.020), ankle circumference (p=0.003), and plantar arch circumference (p=0.041) when compared to those with mild CVI (n=62). In univariate analysis, advanced age, male sex, reduced dorsiflexion range of motion, and larger ankle and plantar arch circumferences were associated with the severity of chronic venous insufficiency. After multivariate adjustment for age and sex, only ankle circumference (OR 1.258; 95% CI: 1.008–1.570; p = 0.042) remained independently associated with disease severity. Conclusion: Ankle circumference was independently associated with the severity of CVI, and may contribute to the stratification of clinical severity and to guiding the physiotherapy approach in this population.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2026.001-036