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. 2023 Apr 24;15(4):e38053.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.38053. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Study of Demographics, Clinical Profile and Risk Factors of Inguinal Hernia: A Public Health Problem in Elderly Males

Puneet K Agarwal  1
Affiliations

Study of Demographics, Clinical Profile and Risk Factors of Inguinal Hernia: A Public Health Problem in Elderly Males

Puneet K Agarwal. Cureus. .

Abstract

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is the most commonly performed elective surgery in India draining significant healthcare resources. This observational study was conducted at a tertiary-level institute in northern India to look into the demographics, clinical profile and risk factors of inguinal hernia.

Method: This study was conducted as an observational study at the tertiary care centre of northern India, including 110 patients who had come to the surgical outpatient department for inguinal hernia repair. After obtaining informed consent from all the participants, demographic details, history and clinical examination were recorded. This was a prospective, single-centre, non-randomized, observational study.

Results and discussion: In our study, 43 patients (39%) were >50 years of age. One hundred and seven patients (97.27%) were males, and three (2.72%) were females. Male: Female ratio was 32:1. The preponderance of males was due to their involvement in more strenuous exercises and lifting weights and the anatomical differences between them. The main risk factor in the present study was lifting heavy weights 55%, followed by altered bowel habits 36.36% and respiratory disease (chronic obstructive airway disease). Smoking and diabetes were also associated as risk factors for the hernia. In this study, the most common side of hernia was on the right side, 63%, on the left, 33% and bilateral in 4% of patients. The indirect hernia was the most common type.

Conclusion: Inguinal hernia is a surgical problem found commonly in the male elderly. Right-sided inguinal hernia is common, with the indirect type being more frequent. Heavy weight lifting and strenuous exercises were commonly found risk factors.

Keywords: constipation; geriatric; heavy weight; inguinal hernia; risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Bar graph showing age distribution in percentage
Age group in years along the x-axis Percentage along the y-axis
Figure 2
Figure 2. Pie chart showing the occupation of study participants in number and percentage
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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