Doença Venosa Crónica em Profissionais de Saúde

Abstract

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a disease that manifests itself through a set of signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency in the lower limbs. Not representing an immediate threat to the lives of patients, it is essentially characterized by high morbidity, the strong impact on quality of life and the economic and social repercussions it entails. However, some difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease make this condition frequently undervalued and underestimated. There are also obstacles associated with therapeutic adherence and the high recurrence of symptoms, which reinforces the chronic character of CVD. Since prolonged orthostatism and prolonged sitting in a sitting position are occupational factors associated with CVD, health professionals are seen as a high-risk profession for developing the disease. In this context, one could consider CVD as an occupational disease, but it is recognized that currently, this potential is very low, due to the reduced awareness of society and the little investigation of the phenomenon in the work context. It also highlights the need for the early manifestations of CVD to be detected early and lead to appropriate forms of treatment and prevention of the disease, in order to prevent its progression, starting from the outset in the contexts where the health professionals themselves work. It is also urgent to recognise the reality and impact of the disease in the national context. It is in this context that, in order to characterize CVD in health professionals, we intend to determine its prevalence in this occupational context and estimate the association with different risk factors. Additionally, we want to estimate the effect of the disease on absenteeism and the quality of life of health professionals. For this purpose, a sample of 350 employees from Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João (CHUSJ) will be used. Data collection will include a self-administered questionnaire and direct observation of the lower limbs of the participants, to be carried out in the context of the Occupational Health Service of CHUSJ, the institution that issued a favorable ethical opinion/approval of this investigation.