PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF VARICOSE VEINS AMONG SURGEONS supgrewal@gmail.com

 

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF VARICOSE VEINS AMONG SURGEONS

4

India

Oral or Poster

Many occupations requiring prolonged standing have been found to associated with higher incidence of varicose veins. (4, 5, 6, 7) Surgeons may be at a higher risk due to prolonged standing in operating rooms.In this questionnaire-based survey, we intended to determine the prevalence of varicose veins among surgeons and elucidate factors associated with higher risk.

This was a cross-sectional, survey-based study done among surgeons. An online questionnaire was shared as a google form among practicing surgeons and residents of all surgical specialties. Primary outcome was prevalence of varicose veins among surgeons, secondary outcomes such as severity of varicose veins, risk factors, prophylactic practices followed by surgeons and treatment received were evaluated.

A total of 782 responses were received, of which 778 were included in the final analysis. The mean age of respondents was 40.411.5 years, there were 175 females (22.3%) and the mean BMI of the group was 26.6 3.8. Among the surveyed cohort, 358 (46.4%) respondents reported at least one sign or symptom of varicose veins. Years of experience , positive family history, female gender and always operating in standing position were significantly associated with development of varicose veins on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, positive family history, years of experience and operating in standing position demonstrated higher odds of developing varicose veins.

Our study found that almost half of all the surgeons surveyed had varicose veins. Surgeons have variable and relatively longer stretches of standing, however prevalnce of 46 % is unexpectedly high.