| Popis: |
The specific objectives of this thesis were to determine the prevalence of varicose veins and CVI on clinical examination, and venous reflux on duplex scanning, in a random sample of the general population. The study design was a cross-sectional survey and the initial study population will be followed up as a cohort. The target population was men and women aged 18-64 years living in the city of Edinburgh. Subjects were randomly selected from the age-sex registers of 12 general practices which were distributed geographically and socio-economically throughout the city. Information collected on each subject included demographic data and past medical history from a questionnaire; height and weight measurement; classification of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency on clinical examination and measurement of duration and venous reflux on duplex scanning of eight vein segments in each leg. The Edinburgh Vein Study confirms that venous disease is a common condition which increases with age. Contrary to many previous studies, the results suggest that varicose veins and CVI are at least as common in men as women. A positive association was seen between the prevalence of venous reflux in individual vein segments and the presence and severity of venous disease, although reflux was also present in many with no clinical signs of disease. Follow-up of this cohort will provide information on the incidence, natural history and development of venous disease in both sexes. It will also help to clarify the extent to which venous reflux is a predictor of future occurrence of venous disease and of complications in those who already have disease. Further long term studies are required to determine the extent to which treatment prevents progression of venous disease. Such information on the natural history and outcomes of treatment is required to allow clinicians and policy makers to make decisions as to who will benefit most from medical intervention for venous disease. |
