Among adults diagnosed with varicose veins, there was a significantly increased risk of incident DVT; the findings for PE and PAD are less clear due to the potential for confounding. Whether the association between varicose veins and DVT is causal or represents a common set of risk factors requires further research.

Pigmentation and vascular and structural components may play important roles in DEC. Detailed classification of DEC types will access physicians in the decision of appropriate therapeutic modalities.