A Clinical Analysis of the Risk Factors of Varicose Veins in Korean / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Varicose veins occur commonly in the general population, however the etiology is not well established. Varicosities are frequently associated with a reflux of blood in the leg veins due to valvular incompetence. Our aim was to determine which risk factors are related to reflux in the general population, and thus could be implicated in the etiology of varicose veins. METHOD: One hundred and eighty nine patients were assessed and their clinical records from March 2001 to June 2004 were reviewed. They were all diagnosed as having primary varicose veins of the lower extremities using duplex ultrasonography. We analyzed the sex, age, symptoms, signs, duration, location and CEAP classification. Patients also completed a self-administered questionnaire, asking about their objectives of the visit, cigarette consumption, familial history, previous pregnancies, use of drugs such as oral contraceptives, hormones, and anticoagulant agents, and other associated diseases. We carried out duplex scans to measure the reflux in venous segments in each leg. RESULTS: The mean age was 46.0 years, and there were 3.3 times more females than males. The most common CEAP classification was C2sEpAsPr, followed by C2aEpAsPr and C1sEpAsPr. Venous reflux was significantly associated with females (p=0.0067), duration (p=0.0027), pregnancy (p=0.0034), smoking (p=0.0360), family history of mother (p=0.0082) and brother (p=0.0360), heaviness (p=0.0120) and stasis dermatitis or ulcer (p=0.0219). CONCLUSION: This study identified relatively strong and consistent risk factors of venous reflux that are associated with females, pregnancy, smoking, duration, family history of the mother or brother, heaviness, and stasis dermatitis or ulcers.