The aim of the clinical study was to monitor and analyse possible causes of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in a randomised sample of patients with diagnosed CVI. There were 100 patients in the investigated sample, 82 women of an average age of 40.4 years and 18 men of an average age of 42.7 years. Monitoring of risk factors of development and advancement of CVI in our sample of patients showed following results: 1. frequent overweight and obesity (BMI > 25 kg/m2) in women (47.6 %) and men (83 %) with relatively frequent cases when a patient put on weight more than 5 kg within the last 5 years before development of CVI signs (24.4 % of women and 22 % of men); 2. a predominance of multiparas (68.3%) over women who have not given a birth or gave birth to 1 child (31.7 %), we have found a big percentage of multiparas among both women younger than 40 (40 %) and especially older women (> 40 years) where the percentage was 75.4 %); 3. a positive family history in the majority of our patients with CVI (71 %), in 88.7 % in a first grade relative; 4. the major part of people in the sample were standing when working (59 %), the number of people with sedentary work was high too (32 %); 5. smoking admitted only minor part of the CVI patients (27 %); 6. significant history of hormonal treatment in the female patients (37.8 %), especially among women younger than 40 (48 %); 7. other risk factors (accidents and surgeries of lower extremities, recurrent thrombophlebitis) appeared either in a very small percentage of the patients (lower limbs surgeries) or in significantly smaller percentage compared to risks in points 1 to 4 (accidents of lower extremities 20 %), recurrent thrombophlebitis 22 %).

        Key words: Chronic venous insufficiency - Risk factors - Obesity - Pregnancy - Genetic disposition - Hormonal treatment - Smoking - Life style - Employment