Journal article
Five-year outcomes of a randomized trial of treatments for varicose veins
J Brittenden, D Cooper, M Dimitrova, G Scotland, SC Cotton, A Elders, G MacLennan, CR Ramsay, J Norrie, JM Burr, B Campbell, P Bachoo, I Chetter, M Gough, J Earnshaw, T Lees, J Scott, SA Baker, E Tassie, J Francis Show all
New England Journal of Medicine | MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOC | Published : 2019
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endovenous laser ablation and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy are recommended alternatives to surgery for the treatment of primary varicose veins, but their long-term comparative effectiveness remains uncertain. METHODS In a randomized, controlled trial involving 798 participants with primary varicose veins at 11 centers in the United Kingdom, we compared the outcomes of laser ablation, foam sclerotherapy, and surgery. Primary outcomes at 5 years were disease-specific quality of life and generic quality of life, as well as cost-effectiveness based on models of expected costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained that used data on participants' treatment costs and sco..
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