Loading...
We tend to believe that obesity predisposes patients to inguinal hernia, but little evidence supports that impression. Using data from a prospective cohort study of older adults in Rotterdam, researchers examined the incidence of inguinal hernia and its relation to body-mass index (BMI) in nearly 6000 men (mean age, 65) and nearly 9000 women (mean age, 68) who had no history of hernia at baseline and were followed for ≥20 years. Diagnoses of incident inguinal hernia were based on both outpatient and hospital records.
In men, the 10- and 20-year estimated cumulative incidences of inguinal hernia were 8% and 14%, respectively. Risk for inguinal hernia was related inversely to BMI: 20-year risk was 17% among those with BMIs <25 kg/m2 and 12% am…