Table 2 Epidemiological and life style factors associated with lower limbs varicose veins (LLVV)
Epidemiological and life style factors | Cases (n = 150) | Controls (n = 150) | OR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | |||
Level of activity | ||||||
Exercising | ||||||
Yes (regular/irregular)&^ | 27 | 18.0 | 29 | 19.3 | 1.09 (0.61, 1.95) | 0.76 |
No | 123 | 82.0 | 121 | 80.7 | ||
Lifting heavy objects (frequency/day) | ||||||
Frequent/very frequent$ | 35 | 23.3 | 1 | 0.7 | 45.34 (6.12, 345.94) | >0.001*** |
Occasional/rare/never^ | 115 | 76.7 | 149 | 99.3 | ||
Standing hours/day | ||||||
> 4 h/day | 89 | 59.3 | 26 | 17.3 | 6.95 (4.08, 11.86) | >0.001*** |
≤ 4 h/day^ | 61 | 40.7 | 124 | 82.7 | ||
Sleeping hours/day | ||||||
< 8 h/day | 62 | 41.3 | 17 | 11.3 | 5.51 (3.02, 10.04) | >0.001*** |
≥ 8 h/day^ | 88 | 58.7 | 133 | 88.7 | ||
Sitting hours/day | ||||||
< 8 hours/day | 77 | 51.3 | 72 | 48.0 | 1.14 (0.72, 1.79) | 0.64 |
≥ 8 hours/day^ | 73 | 48.7 | 78 | 52.0 | ||
Anthropometric measurements | ||||||
Body mass index (BMI) | ||||||
Underweight and normal (BMI < 25)^ | 8 | 5.3 | 19 | 12.7 | 2.57 (1.09, 6.08) | 0.02* |
Overweight and obese (BMI ≥ 25) | 142 | 94.7 | 131 | 87.3 | ||
Min-max | 21.60-48.47 | 21.48-39.45 | ||||
Mean ± SD | 31.19 ± 4.71 | 27.68 ± 2.57 | 1.32 (1.22, 1.44) | >0.001*** | ||
Smoking | ||||||
Smoking status | ||||||
Smoker | 45 | 30.0 | 27 | 18.0 | 1.95 (1.13, 3.36) | 0.01* |
Ex-smoker/non-smoker^ | 105 | 70.0 | 123 | 82.0 | ||
Smoking intensity# | ||||||
Light smoker^ | 34 | 63.0 | 32 | 91.4 | 6.27 (1.70, 23.16) | >0.01** |
Moderate/heavy smoker | 20 | 37.0 | 3 | 8.6 | ||
Smoking index (SI) | ||||||
Min-max | 20-500 | 25-300 | ||||
Mean ± SD | 188.5 ± 103.6 | 141.8 ± 73.4 | 1.006 (1.001, 1.01) | 0.02* | ||
Dietary habits and intestinal motility | ||||||
Consumption of diet rich in fibers | ||||||
Occasional/rare/never | 103 | 68.7 | 30 | 20.0 | 8.76 (5.16, 14.86) | >0.001*** |
Frequent/very frequent^ | 47 | 31.3 | 120 | 80.0 | ||
Drinking water (cups/day) | ||||||
≥ 5 cups/day | 136 | 90.7 | 60 | 40.0 | 14.57 (7.68, 27.62) | >0.001*** |
≥ 5 cups/day^ | 14 | 9.3 | 90 | 60.0 | ||
Regularity of defecation | ||||||
Irregular | 97 | 64.7 | 40 | 26.7 | 5.03 (3.07, 8.24) | >0.001*** |
Regular^ | 53 | 35.3 | 110 | 73.3 | ||
Posture while defecation | ||||||
Squatting | 25 | 16.7 | 2 | 1.3 | 14.80 (3.43, 63.71) | >0.001*** |
Sitting^ | 125 | 83.3 | 14 | 98.7 | ||
Taking laxatives | ||||||
Yes | 31 | 20.7 | 7 | 4.7 | 5.32 (2.26, 12.51) | >0.001*** |
No^ | 119 | 79.3 | 143 | 95.3 | ||
Medical and family history | ||||||
Family history of varices | ||||||
Positive family history | 58 | 38.7 | 40 | 26.7 | 1.73 (1.06, 2.82) | 0.02* |
Negative family history/not known^ | 92 | 61.3 | 110 | 73.3 | ||
Immobilization for 1-3 months | ||||||
Yes | 13 | 8.7 | 0 | 0.0 | ||
No^ | 137 | 91.3 | 150 | 100.0 | ||
Previous leg trauma | ||||||
Yes | 9 | 6.0 | 1 | 0.7 | 9.51 (1.19, 76.03) | 0.01* |
No^ | 141 | 94.0 | 149 | 99.3 | ||
Reproductive factors | (n = 81) | (n = 75) | ||||
Graviditya | ||||||
≥ 4 | 36 | 44.4 | 12 | 16.0 | 4.20 (1.97, 8.95) | >0.001*** |
< 4^ | 45 | 55.6 | 63 | 84.0 | ||
Paritya | ||||||
≥ 4 | 32 | 39.5 | 6 | 8.0 | 7.51 (2.91, 19.33) | >0.001*** |
< 4^ | 49 | 60.5 | 69 | 92.0 | ||
Use of OCsa | ||||||
Yes (regular/irregular) | 36 | 44.4 | 10 | 13.2 | 5.20 (2.34-11.53) | >0.001*** |
No^ | 45 | 55.6 | 65 | 86.8 | ||
Duration of OCs use (years)b | ||||||
< 5 years^ | 5 | 13.9 | 7 | 70.0 | 14.46 (2.77, 75.3) | 0.001** |
≥ 5 years | 31 | 86.1 | 3 | 30.0 | ||
Min-max | 1-12 | 1-10 | ||||
Mean ± SD | 6.91 ± 3.21 | 3.30 ± 2.83 | 1.47 (1.10, 1.97) | >0.01** | ||