Hernia among Patients Admitted to the Department of Surgery of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Hernia is one of the most common surgery-requiring conditions. Despite this, hernia still needs to be studied in more detail. The main objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of hernia among patients admitted to the Department of Surgery of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients admitted to the Department of Surgery of a tertiary care centre from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2022. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 202/2079/80). The patient admitted to the Department of Surgery during the study period was included and those with incomplete data were excluded. A convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 3236 patients, the prevalence of hernia was 749 (23.14%) (21.69-24.59, 95% Confidence Interval). The inguinal hernia was the most common type found in 574 (77.25%), followed by an umbilical hernia in 64 (8.61%). A total of 79 (10.55%) had comorbidity among patients with hernia. Conclusions: The prevalence of hernia in our study was found to be higher than in other studies done in similar setting. Easily accessible health facilities, competent primary surgical care and health education should be taken into account by the policymakers to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this condition.

Hernia among Patients Admitted to the Department of Surgery of a Tertiary Care Centre

“…8 In our study, the hernia was almost 3 times more common in males than females which was in coherence with other studies in which there were 63.4% males and 36.6% females, 9 79.2% males and 20.8% female, 11 86.54% males and 13.45% females. 6 Inguinal, umbilical, epigastric hernia, and supraumbilical hernia showed male preponderance whereas incisional hernia was more common in females, the femoral hernia was seen only in females which were in coherence with the findings of another study in which the male: female ratio was 23.95:1 for inguinal hernia, 1.78:1 for umbilical hernia, and 2.77:1 for an epigastric hernia. 6 The mean age of the hernia patients was 42.76±21.85 years with the distribution of hernia increasing with age, peaking at age 40-59 years, then falling gradually.…”

“… 5 Another study at the National Academy of Medical Sciences in Kathmandu found a greater prevalence of hernias (23.14%) than in our study. 6 Saudi Arabian people had a hernia prevalence of 11.7%, 7 whereas Central Russians had a hernia prevalence of 20.9%. 8 A tertiary care centre in India reported a 22% burden of abdominal hernia among patients who had been admitted.…”

“… 7 The inguinal hernia was the most common type found in 77.25%, followed by an umbilical hernia in 8.61%. 6 Umbilical hernias were found in 10.2%, groin hernias in 8.3%, and incisional hernias in 2.4% of the Russian population. 8 …”

“…7 The inguinal hernia was the most common type found in 77.25%, followed by an umbilical hernia in 8.61%. 6 Umbilical hernias were found in 10.2%, groin hernias in 8.3%, and incisional hernias in 2.4% of the Russian population. 8 In our study, the hernia was almost 3 times more common in males than females which was in coherence with other studies in which there were 63.4% males and 36.6% females, 9 79.2% males and 20.8% female, 11 86.54% males and 13.45% females.…”

“…15 Hypertension was the most common comorbidities in our study present in 19.43% of hernia patients compared to 3.34% of hypertensive hernia patients in another study. 6 …”