Pain and quality of life in chronic venous disease: Clinicians' perspectives differ from those of patients

291 French patients with CVD and 120 GPs were included in an observational, cross-sectional study collecting information about perception of pain and QoL. Pain intensity was estimated using a VAS. QoL was estimated by means of the CMQ, a CVD-specific questionnaire (patients), or of 4 items corresponding to the 4 dimensions of the CMQ (GPs). As a comparative measure, a similar study was concomitantly performed on GPs and patients with intermittent claudication. Although correlated (Kw=0.27 and 0.17, respectively), pain and QoL perceptions according to GPs and patients differed: GPs underestimated patients' pain intensity and CVD impact on QoL. Opposing results were found for intermittent claudication. Patients' perception is a major outcome for the evaluation of therapies.