THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF VARICOSE VEINS

Abstract

There have been many statements regarding the epidemiology of varicose veins, and many investigations of varicose vein incidence in different communities. There is not, however, any recorded collation of this evidence on which a reasoned opinion of geographical incidence could be based. This paper attempts such a collation. it adds incidence data obtained from Hong Kong, and opinions on incidence obtained from observers of primitive communities in India, Australia and New Guinea. It is concluded that “varicose veins” are a common disease in Western communities, a rare disease in primitive tribal communities, and a disease of intermediate incidence in communities whose social structure lies between these extremes. The relevance of this conclusion to the aetiology of varicose veins is discussed. It is concluded that varicose veins are probably not an inherited abnormality, but an acquired one due to some unidentified factor in western-style living.