Poor compliance with medical hosiery is one of the reasons of low effectiveness of compression therapy. More comfortable compression stockings can improve compliance.

OBJECTIVE

To assess compliance with 15-20 mm Hg compression hosiery (CH) in female patients with C0S-C2S chronic venous diseases (CVD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A multiple-center observational study enrolled C0S-C2S female patients presenting with at least one CVD symptom > 30 mm on visual analog scale (VAS). We have analyzed compliance for 1 and 3 months. Moreover, we assessed mean duration of CH wearing (hours per a week and month), changes of certain CVD symptoms and all symptoms after a month, physician and patient satisfaction with treatment outcomes after 1 and 3 months, as well as comfort of CH wearing. Compliance with compression stockings was recorded using SMS diary. Patients sent messages with appropriate information about putting on and taking off knitwear.

RESULTS

Within the first month, «very good + good», «very good» and «good» compliance with CH (n=124) was registered in 32.2% (40/124), 10.5% (13/124) and 21.8% (27/124) of patients, respectively. After 3 months (n=61), these values were 50.8% (31/61), 18.0% (11/61) and 32.8% (20/61), respectively. Severity of CVD symptoms decreased as follows (mm of VAS scale): leg pain –20.0, feeling of leg swelling –19, feeling of heaviness in legs –22, leg fatigue –23.5, sum –85.0.

CONCLUSION

The majority of C0S-C2S patients are compliant with compression hosiery throughout 1- and 3-month therapy. Compression hosiery is well tolerated and effective in correction of venous symptoms after 1-month therapy.