PREVALENCE AND RISK-FACTORS OF VARICOSE-VEINS IN LOWER-EXTREMITIES - MINI-FINLAND HEALTH SURVEY

Objective: To study the prevalence and risk factors of clinically impo rtant varicose veins in the lower extremities. Design: Cross-sectional study with self-administered questionnaire. Setting: A national healt h examination survey, Finland. Subjects: 8000 people from 40 geographi cal areas representing the adult population aged 30 years and over. Re sults: The prevalence of varicose veins diagnosed by a physician was 2 5% in women and 7% in men. Twenty-nine per cent of the men and 53% of the women with diagnosed varicose veins had been treated surgically. A ge, height, body mass index (weight/height(2)), standing at work, and the number of births were expected risk factors associated with varico sities. Unexpectedly, signs of osteoarthrosis were positively, and dia betes negatively, associated with varicose veins. Urban dwelling and h igh income correlated postively with varicose veins treated surgically in women. Conclusions: Varicose veins in the lower extremities are co mmon, and demand considerable health service resources. The aetiology of varicose veins is still incompletely understood and more research i s needed to develop possible preventive measures.