Epidemiology of varicose veins

The prevalence rate of varicose veins in adults varies from less than 1% in lowland New Guinea women to over 50% in women in south Wales. Within populations the prevalence increases with age, is generally greater in women, is directly related to body mass, has an inconsistent relationship with occupation, and usually increases with increasing parity. None of these factors explain the striking geographic variation in the occurrence of varicose veins. The 2 most plausible hypotheses implicate low‐fiber diets and prolonged chair‐sitting as the primary causal factor. Epidemiological studies are required within populations to establish the merits of these 2 competing hypotheses. Since varicose veins are potentially preventable, further research is well justified.