In what researchers are calling "the largest genetic¹ study ever performed" on varicose vein² disease, a Stanford University School of Medicine study found a person's height to be a significant risk factor for developing varicose veins³.

在一项被称为关于静脉曲张的“史上最大规模基因研究”中，斯坦福大学医学院发现，身高是引起静脉曲张的一个重要危险因素。

We not only found an association between height and varicose veins, but the genetic studies we did showed a causal link, said cardiologist and study author Dr. Nicholas Leeper, an associate professor of surgery and cardiovascular medicine at Stanford.

心脏病学家兼该研究的作者、斯坦福大学外科和心血管医学副教授尼古拉斯·利珀博士表示：“我们不仅发现了身高和静脉曲张之间的联系，而且我们所做的基因研究也显示出了因果关系。”

"That suggests that the genes⁴ and pathways that drive human height are also likely to be causing varicose veins."

“这表明，驱动人类身高的基因和途径也可能导致静脉曲张。”

Swollen⁵, twisty purple veins that often look like tree branches just under the surface of the skin, varicose veins can cause aching pain, throbbing⁶ and discomfort⁷.

肿胀、弯曲的紫色静脉，通常看起来像皮肤表面下的树枝，静脉曲张会引起疼痛、悸动和不适。

Using data from the UK Biobank, a genetic repository of 502,619 people ages 40 to 69, the Stanford researchers identified 30 genetic regions associated with varicose veins.

斯坦福大学的研究人员通过运用英国生物库的数据，也就是年龄在40到69岁之间的502619人的遗传数据，发现了30个与静脉曲张有关的基因区域。

Then they used an artificial intelligence machine model to look for any previously⁸ unknown risk factors.

然后他们使用人工智能机器模型来寻找之前还未知的风险因素。

Out of 2,716 predictors of varicose veins, the machine model confirmed many currently established risk factors: age, family history, gender⁹, weight, pregnancy¹⁰, smoking, hormone¹¹ therapy and a history of deep vein thrombosis or surgery on the legs.

在2716个静脉曲张的预测因子中，机器模型证实了许多目前已确认的危险因素：年龄、家族史、性别、体重、怀孕、吸烟、激素治疗以及腿部深静脉血栓或手术史。

But, Leeper said, the connection to height was surprising.

但是，利珀博士称，身高因素也在其中确实令人感到惊讶。

To verify that finding, researchers used a statistical¹² technique known as Mendelian randomization to see whether height was an actual cause. Sure enough, the analysis showed that it was.

为了验证这一发现，研究人员使用了一种被称为孟德尔随机取样的统计技术，以确定身高是否是患上静脉曲张的真正因素。果不其然，分析表明确实如此。

"A handful of studies from 20 or 30 years ago hinted at a link," Leeper said. "We don't understand it. Perhaps taller people are affected¹³ by gravity, or there could be something in the vessel¹⁴ wall itself. What is happening, we just don't know."

利珀博士表示：“二三十年前的一些研究暗示了一种联系。我们不明白。也许更高的人更容易受到重力的影响，或者在他们的血管壁里本身就可能有一些东西。到底发生了什么，我们还不得而知。”