In what researchers are calling "the largest genetic study ever performed" on varicose vein disease, a Stanford University School of Medicine study found a person's height to be a significant risk factor for developing varicose veins.
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 genes 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。”

Swollen, twisty purple veins that often look like tree branches just under the surface of the skin, varicose veins can cause aching pain, throbbing and discomfort.
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 previously 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, gender, weight, pregnancy, smoking, hormone 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 statistical 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 affected by gravity, or there could be something in the vessel 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。”