Abstract
Chronic venous disease (CVD) and cardiovascular (CV) disease have a high prevalence worldwide. A number of studies suggest the possibility of a correlation between these two diseases of an unclear etiology.
The effects of altered hemodynamics in right ventricular dysfunction with subsequent elevation of venous pressure may undoubtedly cause symptoms and signs typical of chronic venous disease. There are also some common risk factors for both diseases: especially obesity and metabolic syndrome.
However, chronic inflammation causing alteration of endothelial function could also be a common denominator. The Gutenberg Health Study, an epidemiological study conducted at the University of Mainz, investigated the risk factors for CVD and CV disease.
Cross-sectional analysis of the general population aged between 40 and 80 years confirmed a high prevalence of CVD, with 36.5% of those examined. The main determinants of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) were age, female sex, arterial hypertension, obesity, smoking and any cardiovascular disease.
Chronic venous insufficiency, an advanced stage of venous disease, was associated with a prediction of increased 10-year mortality in persons without manifest cardiovascular disease. During a follow-up of 6.4 years (+-1.6), the the presence of CVI was verified to be a strong predictor of overall mortality, irrespective of the clinical profile of the patient and concomitant medication.