Table 1.
Prevalence of Varicose Veins in Males and Females from Surveys of the General Population
| Year | Location | Age (y) | Method | Definition | Male (%) | Female (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data modified from Fowkes et al.2 | ||||||
| 1973 | Tecumseh, USA | >10 | Examination | Prominent superficial veins in the lower extremities | 12.9 | 25.9 |
| 1981 | Jerusalem, Israel | >15 | Examination | Distended and tortuous subcutaneous veins, excluding very small veins (venulectasia) | 10.4 | 29.5 |
| 1992 | London, England | 35–70 | Questionnaire | Asked “Have you ever had large veins or varicose veins in your legs?” | 17 | 31 |
| 1995 | Finland | >30 | Questionnaire | Asked whether a physician had ever made a diagnosis of varicose veins | 6.8 | 24.6 |
| 1999 | Edinburgh, Scotland | 18–64 | Examination | Dilated tortuous trunks of the long and short saphenous veins and their branches of first or second order | 39.7 | 32.2 |