Patients with varicose veins may be at an increased risk of dementia

1. In this population-based cohort study, patients with varicose veins (VV) had an increased risk of all-cause dementia.

2. Treatment of VV was associated with a reduced risk of vascular dementia.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Varicose veins (VV) are characterized by enlarged and twisted superficial veins that are >3mm in diameter, primarily affecting the saphenous veins, their branches, or other superficial veins in the legs. Previous research has linked VV to white matter changes in the brain, increased inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, which may trigger neuroinflammatory pathways associated with dementia and vascular cognitive impairment. Although VV and dementia are both prevalent, the potential link between them remains unclear. This study thus investigated the relationship between VV and dementia risk, as well as whether treatment or procedures for VV are associated with dementia risk. This retrospective study analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening (NHIS-HEALS) cohort database in South Korea and included participants aged >40 years who had available health screening results between 2005 and 2010. In total 396,767participants were included in the study (mean age [SD] = 56.1 [9.3], male [%] = 182,347 [46.0%]), with VV present in 5,096 (1.3%) participants. During a median follow-up of 13.33 years (interquartile range 10.4–16.26), 55,329 (13.9%) cases of all-cause dementia were identified. Compared to the non-VV group, the VV group had an increased risk of all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.235, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.147–1.329). Treatment or procedures for VV was significantly associated with a decreased risk of vascular dementia (HR: 0.566, 95% CI: 0.382–0.841). Overall, this study found that patients with VV had an increased risk of all-cause dementia, while treatment of VV was associated with a reduced risk of vascular dementia. 

Click to read the study in PLOSONE

Image: PD

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