Objectives: to determine the prevalence of LCVI and its impaction on QOL. *Siting: City of Mansoura in Egypt, 
Patients and methods: Men and women aged from 15 to 75 years attended the outpatient clinic of Surgery in Mansoura University hospital during the period from October 2000 to December 2001. 
Methods: Clinical examination, Doppler ultrasound and sometimes duplex scanning were done. 
Results: Out of 3259 subjects examined, 350 (10.7%) were diagnosed as LCVI. Mean age ± SD was 41.5 ± 9.4 years. Age, sex and residence differences were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The prevalence of varicose veins (VV) was 2.2%, varicose ulcer (VU) was 2.4% and the oedema or skin changes was 4.1% generally, VV was greater in females, young ages and low education level. While, VU and oedema or skin changes were higher in males, old ages and low social classes (P>0.05). 
Concerning impact of LCVI on QOL, 61.9% of these cases recorded in the questionaire had restricted daily activity, 18.7% had change in work activity, 7.1% decreased activity , 9.1% absenteesm from work, 2.3% change in pattern of work, 26.3% psychological destress, and 11.5% complications due to treatment. All these were higher in VU (P<0.05). However, cosmotic disfigurement was the complaint of 52.5% mostly among VV patients. Hospital stay due to this disease was 39.9% for 5.29 ± 0.7 days., 
Conclusion: LCVI is an important disease, it is prevalent in Mansoura, Egypt. Early case detection and management is 
needed on primary health care level due to its bad effects on QOL. Further community based study is needed to determine the actual size of the problem.