Study of Risk Factors in Patients of Primary Inguinal Hernia in Bundelkhand Region of India

Background: Inguinal hernia is a common condition dealt by surgeons in our country. It is said to be associated with increasing age, male gender, smoking, heavy weight lifting, abdominal wall weakness, connective tissue disorders and factors responsible for increased intra-abdominal pressure. Present study has been carried to find out relation of various risk factors associated with development of inguinal hernia in both gender, various age groups and its association with type of inguinal hernia in Bundelkhand region of India. Methods: This study was carried out on patients of primary inguinal hernia belonging to Bundelkhand region of India. Patients’ detailed history was taken for the presence of risk factors and they were thoroughly examined for other comorbidities too. Data were further classified in groups formed on the basis of patient age, gender, type of inguinal hernia viz. direct/ indirect hernia and presence of various risk factors. All the findings were tabulated and inferences were drawn followed by statistical comparison using chi-square test with p value <0.05 considered as significant. Relative risk for cases with controls were estimated by calculating the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals by univariate logistic regression. Results: In both gender, age group of 41-50 years had highest number of patients followed by age group of 31-40 years. Among 170 patients of primary inguinal hernia, males showed higher preponderance for direct as well as for indirect inguinal hernia than females. Inguinal hernia prevalence was higher on right side than left side in both gender. Most prevalent risk factors found present in our study group were heavy weight lifting (35.29%, OR=1.77), chronic cough (21.67%, OR=2.88), bowel disturbances (20.58%, OR=1.83) and tobacco use (20.58%,, OR=1.94). Conclusion: Inguinal hernias continue to be a source of morbidity and mortality in our country and globally. Its prevalence increases with advancing age in both gender and mostly on right side. Present study also shows that heavy weight lifting, chronic cough, bowel disturbances and tobacco use are associated with high occurrence of inguinal hernia among the genders and different age groups.