A Cross-sectional Study on the Association of Physical Activity Levels and Exercise Capacity in Patients with Chronic Venous Insufficiency in a Cohort from India

Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to estimate exercise capacity and physical activity levels in patients with lower limb venous insufficiency. Methodology: A total of 91 consecutive patients with diagnosed chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and willing to participate in the study were enrolled into the study, over a 18 months. Patients with deep vein thrombosis, peripheral arterial disease, significant cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, and those with amputations were excluded from the study. Standardized data collection forms and questionnaires were used to collect information. Exercise capacity was assessed using the “6-min Walk Test (6MWT),” the physical activity was assessed using the “International Physical Activity Questionnaire” score. Sleep Quality Assessment was done using the “Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI),” and the “Visual Analog Scale (VAS)” was used for pain severity measurement. Results: The cohort comprised 8 (8.8%) females and 83 (91.2%) males. The age of patients was from 18 years to 80 years, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 37.75 (9.8) years. Based on the CEAP classification, 76.9% patients were categorized as C3, 14.3% as C4a, 3.3%, 1.1% and 4 (4.4%) as C4b, C5 and C6, respectively. 6MWT and VAS had significant correlation with body mass index (Pearson’s r values of 0.384, 0.389; P < 0.001). A statistically significant correlation between CEAP classification and PSQI scores ( r = 0.257, P = 0.014) was noticed. A strong association between CEAP classification and pain severity on the VAS ( r = 0.432, P < 0.001) was observed. Conclusion: The results of this study reinforce the multifactorial burden of CVI. Pain severity emerged as the most closely related to disease classification, followed by exercise tolerance and sleep quality, in the Indian population.