Post-Thrombotic Syndrome: Effect of Nurse-Led Interventions on Patients' Clinical Severity, Quality of Life, and Disease Recurrence

Document Type : Original articles

Authors

1 Assistant professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assuit University, Egypt

2 Lecturer of Medical Surgical Nursing(Adult Nursing) , Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Egypt

3 Lecturer of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a chronic and debilitating complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), affecting 20–50% of patients globally. It significantly impairs quality of life (QoL) and substantially burdens healthcare systems. This study aimed to evaluate the Effect of Nurse-Led Interventions on clinical severity, quality of life (QoL), and disease recurrence among patients with PTS. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used, with 60 PTS patients randomly assigned to either a control or an intervention group.  The study was conducted at the vascular surgery department and its outpatient clinics at Assiut University Hospital, Egypt. Outcomes were assessed using Tool I:- Interview questionnaire sheet (Demographic characteristics, Risk factors assessment, and the Venous Clinical Severity Score), Tool II: Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-20), and Tool III: DASH ( D- dimer, Age, Sex, and Hormone use) score for recurrent VTE (venous thromboembolism). Results: After three months, the intervention group showed significant improvements compared to the control group. Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) scores revealed reduced symptom severity, including pain, edema, skin pigmentation, and ulceration (p < 0.001). CIVIQ-20 scores demonstrated marked enhancement in all QoL domains, particularly psychological distress (over 60% reduction, p < 0.001).Additionally, 73.3% of the intervention group was reclassified as low risk by the DASH score versus 23.3% in the control group (p < 0.001). Strong correlations were found between lower clinical severity, improved QoL, and reduced recurrence risk among the intervention group. Conclusion: Reductions in symptom severity, marked improvements in QoL domains, and favorable shifts in VTE recurrence risk highlight the effectiveness of comprehensive Nurse-Led Interventions in PTS management. These findings underscore the critical role of integrated, structured interventions in optimizing long-term outcomes for DVT survivors. Recommendation: Nurse-led interventions should be integrated into routine care for patients with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS).

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