It is estimated over 50% of the adult population (up to 73% of females and 56% of males) will have some manifestation of mild CVD reticular veins, commonly referred to as spider veins [1]. Over 30% of the population will have VV and over 10% will have more advanced symptoms of CVD[2, 3].
Risk Factors
There are numerous risk factors for VV and CVD. They can broadly be classified by risk factors associated with hormonal, lifestyle, age, acquired and inherited factors (Table 1 – modified from Piazza 2014[4]).
Table 1 – Risk Factors for Varicose Veins and Chronic Venous Disease
| Classification | Risk Factor | Likely Mechanism |
| Hormonal | Female Gender | High oestrogen state |
| Lifestyle | Prolonged sitting or standing Smoking | Venous hypertension Endothelial injury |
| Acquired | Pregnancy Obesity Deep vein thrombosis Age | Venous Hypertension & High oestrogen state Venous hypertension Obstruction of deep veins & venous valvular incompetence Venous valvular incompetence |
| Inherited | Family History Tall height Congenital syndromes | Venous valvular incompetence Venous hypertension Venous valvular incompetence Venous hypertension Deep venous obstruction |