ABSTRACT
Epidemiological studies of chronic venous disorders (CVD) were performed in many countries worldwide. Between 1994 and 1996, 2211 men and women between 40 and 79 years of age in San Diego, CA, were evaluated by visual inspection and duplex ultrasound for manifestations of CVD: telangiectasias, varicose veins, trophic changes, and edema. In the Polish Study, obesity was a risk factor for venous disease compared with participants without CVD. The term “chronic venous insufficiency” implies a functional abnormality of the venous system, and is usually reserved for more advanced disease, including edema, skin changes, or venous ulcers. Leg complaints consistent with symptoms of venous diseases, such as heaviness and a feeling of swelling, were present in 49.1% of the male population and 62.1% of the female population. In the pathogenesis of CVD, valve dysfunction and wall dilation are followed by venous reflux.
