Varicose veins in New Zealand: prevalence and severity.

Three categories (none, mild, and moderate) of varicose veins are studied, and the independent variables studied are race, age, sex, height, weight. Quetelet index and parity. In Maoris the age standarised prevalence rates of varicose veins are 36.3 percent in males and 47.4 percent in females. In Pakehas the rates are 21.6 percent in males and 40.4 percent in females. In both sexes Maoris have a significantly higher prevalence of the more severe category of varicose veins. All variables studied were associated with the prevalence of varicose veins although the relationships vary by race and sex. In the univariate analyses the only variable that distinguished the three categories of varicose veins was parity in Maori females. In the multivariate analyses only in Maori males was a significant discrimination between the three groups of varicose veins achieved although "suggestive" discriminations were also achieved for females of both races.