The Prevalence of Itch and Pain and Its Characteristics in Patients with Mild to Moderate Venous Insufficiency and Its Relationship to the Degree of Venous Insufficiency

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of itch and its characteristics in patients with mild to moderate chronic venous insufficiency and to explore the relationship between itch and the severity of venous insufficiency. The study included 100 patients (89 women and 11 men) with a mean age of 46.7 ± 9.4 years. It was found that 69% of the patients experienced itch, with 47% also reporting a burning sensation and 44% reporting pain. The itch was most commonly located on the anterior shin (62% of patients) and occurred daily. Skin xerosis was observed in 52% of the patients but was not related to the intensity of the itch. The itch was most often aggravated by standing (57% of patients) and prolonged sitting (30% of patients), and it tended to worsen in the evening (51%) and at night (45%). The study concluded that itch is a common symptom of chronic venous insufficiency and should be considered a cause of localized itch in the lower extremities.