Associations of disease-related parameters with physical activity, general health status, functional capacity, and lower-extremity function in patients with CEAP C2–C3 chronic venous insufficiency

Objectives To investigate the associations of disease-related parameters with physical activity, general health status, functional capacity, and lower-extremity function in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Methods This cross-sectional study included 54 patients with Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, and Pathophysiological (CEAP) C2–C3 CVI. Assessments included Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), selected vein diameter, venous reflux time (VRT), International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF), daily step count, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS). Spearman correlation and univariable and age- and body mass index-adjusted multivariable linear regression analyses were performed. Sensitivity analyses used binary VRT (≤6 vs >6 seconds). Results Mean age was 48.81 ± 8.25 years; 45 patients (83.3%) were women and 49 (90.7%) had CEAP C3 disease. VCSS correlated negatively with IPAQ-SF (r = −0.341; p = .012), daily step count (r = −0.438; p < .001), percentage of predicted 6MWD (r = −0.340; p = .012), 6MWD (r = −0.358; p = .008), and LEFS (r = −0.341; p = .012), but not significantly with NHP (r = −0.244; p = .075). In adjusted models, VCSS was negatively associated with IPAQ-SF (B = −60.422; 95% confidence interval [CI], −110.305 to −10.540; p = .019), daily step count (B = −411.843; 95% CI, −678.825 to −144.862; p = .003), percentage of predicted 6MWD (B = −2.765; 95% CI, −4.624 to −0.907; p = .004), and LEFS (B = −4.470; 95% CI, −6.996 to −1.945; p < .001). Selected vein diameter showed no significant adjusted associations. VRT was positively associated only with LEFS (B = 3.643; 95% CI, 1.406 to 5.879; p = .002). With binary VRT, the negative VCSS associations with daily step count, percentage of predicted 6MWD, and LEFS remained significant, whereas the IPAQ-SF association did not (p = .053); the positive VRT–LEFS association remained significant ( p = .041). Conclusions In patients with CEAP C2–C3 CVI, predominantly C3, higher VCSS was associated with fewer daily steps, reduced walking capacity, and poorer lower-extremity function. A multidimensional assessment integrating VCSS, physical activity, functional capacity, and lower-extremity function may provide a more comprehensive clinical evaluation.