Body mass index and primary chronic venous disease--a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate whether overweight and obesity are related to the clinical (C) category of clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification of chronic venous disease (CVD).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in Serbia, in the year 2011. Men and women aged >18 years, consecutively coming to venous specialists because of venous problems in the legs, were included in the study. Patients demographic, anthropometric and clinical data were collected. For the analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used.

RESULTS

The study comprised 1116 subjects with primary CVD, 384 (34.4%) men and 732 (65.6%) women. Among them 464 (41.6%) were normal-weight patients (body mass index (BMI) < 25.0 kg m(-2)), 476 (42.7%) were overweight (BMI = 25.0-29.9 kg m(-2)) and 176 (15.8%) were obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg m(-2)). According to multivariate analysis, the CEAP C category of CVD was significantly more advanced in overweight and obese patients, the association being more pronounced in obese. Compared groups did not differ in the presence of venous reflux. In univariate analysis, venous obstruction was related to overweight and obesity but this association did not substantially affect the relationship between obesity and CEAP C categories of CVD.

CONCLUSION

The CEAP C categories of CVD were significantly related to overweight and obesity, and this association was independent of age, sex and some other postulated risk factors.