Risk Assessment of Varicose Veins Among Traffic Police Officers in Rawalpindi City

Abstract

Background: Varicose veins are lorluous veins that tend to get swollen and can become very painful. These veins are filled with abnonnal collection of blood. These are lend to be more common in professions who have work to do with standing mostly for example traffic police officers. In Pakistan very few studies have been conducted regarding this. This can be particularly dangerous if left untreated and cam lead to several complications like ulcers. bleeding and thromboembolism. Objectives : To assess the risk of varicose veins development in traffic wardens of Rawalpindi City and to an association between different sociodemographic variables with development of varicose veins. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out in different parts of the Rawalpindi city. Different signal areas were observed and lrnffic policemen were randomly selected. Total of246 policemen were se.lected and questionnaire was distributed. Chi-square test of association was applied to examine the association between different variables with development of varicose veins. Sociodemographic variables and infonnation about risk factors related to leg pain, tingling, skin discoloration and other risk factors related to healtb issues including diabetes, angina. lung disease, heart condition and DVT. Results: Out of 246 male participants majority were 67(27.2%) were below 30 years of age. 90 (36.6%%) were Police Constable. 77 (3 1.3%) were Head Constable, 90(36.6%) were ASL 2 (1.30%) 26(10.6%) were sub inspector.6(2.4%) were [nspectors. It was also observed that respondents whose duration of standing was 5-10 years were 2.76 times more likely to develop varicose veins as compared to respondents with less than 5 years of standing. Similarly. respondenis with standing duration of more than 10 years were 2.98 times more lik ely to develop varicose veins as compared to respondents with less than 5 years of standing (p value= 0.026). Conclusion Based on the major conclusions of this study. it is recomm ended that the police department in Pakistan need 10 create awareness among its workers about the risk of varicose veins disease. So, they can take precautionary measures such as exercise and intemlittent breaks during long duty hours to avoid long duration of standing. Furthennore. the police departm ent should also hire occupational hea lth and safety workers who monitor th e occupational health-related matters of the policemen and develop guidelil1es to reduce occupational health-related problems. Keywords Health status. Occupational hazard, Police pe-rsollllei, Prevalence, Risk assessment, Varicose vellls.