Lifestyle factors and varicose veins: does cross-sectional design result in underestimate of the risk?

Abstract

Objectives To assess whether smoking, alcohol drinking and dietary factors are linked with varicose veins. Methods A middle-aged general population of 4903 was studied, and prevalence rates at entry and five-year incidence of varicose veins were assessed. Lifestyle habits were recorded at entry and at the end of the follow-up. Results New varicose veins were significantly more common in individuals with regular alcohol intake, incidence odds ratio (OR) 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–2.3) in a multivariate analysis (of 2202 individuals). The association was particularly strong in women. Smokers had a higher incidence of varicose veins compared with non-smokers, OR 1.3 (95% CI: 0.9–1.8), but without statistical significance. Having daily meals of meat implied less new varicose veins than having 0–2 weekly meals of meat. Conclusion Alcohol was likely to increase the risk of varicose veins in women and smoking in both genders. These findings were seen in the follow-up design, but not when the data of these risk factors were compared with varicose veins prevalent at entry.