Maori women subject to varicose veins

Press, 18 December 1976, Page 10

Maori women subject to varicose veins

PA Wellington. Varicose veins are more prevalent among Maoris than pakehas. In berth races it is more common among females, according to a report in the latest “New Zealand Medical Journal.”

Thirty-six per cent of Maori males and 47 per cent, of Maori females have the condition, while only 22 per cent of pakeha males and 40 per cent of pakeha females have it.

The report was prepared by Dr R. Beaglehole, (senior research fellow) Dr Clare E. Salmond, (senior biostatistician) and Dr I. A. M. Prior, director of Wellington Hospital’s epidemiology unit. It says it is possible that Maoris are genetically susceptible to developing varicose veins, especially severe cases.

“This cannot, however, be the sole explanation since varicose viens are exceedingly rare in Polynesians living in other parts of the South Pacific.

"Undiscovered environmental factors, perhaps acting on the basis of a genetic susceptibility, must be responsible for the frequency of varicose veins among New Zealand Maoris.”

Dr Beaglehole said weight and the number of children borne by a woman were also important factors.

The report states that patients with varicose veins are responsible for a considerable portion of the surgical waiting lists in the major New Zealand hospitals. In 1973 it was reported that 10 per cent of waiting lists were made up of people with the condition, said Dr Beaglehole. “If it is as common as

this survey shows and if all these people want treatment -it’s going to create great strain on hospital services,” he said.

He said the study was an.argument in favour of encouraging ; outpatient rather than surgical treatment. Surgery entails the stripping of veins whereas outpatient treatment in-

volves injecting the veins so they become blocked. It is not normally a painful condition and the treatment in most cases is carried out for cosmetic reasons.

The condition results from the failure of valves in the veins to work properly and this allows the pooling of blood.

There are two theories as to the cause of varicose veins. One is that the condition results from a lack of fibre in the diet, and the other is that it is associated with sitting in chairs.