A study recently published in JAMA Surgery examines trends in rates of emergent abdominal hernia repair within the United States.
Researchers examined a retrospective analysis of adults with emergent hernia repair using National Center for Health Statistics data from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2010.
The analysis found that:
• An estimated 2.3 million inpatient abdominal hernia repairs were performed from 2001 to 2010, of which an estimated 567,000 were performed emergently.
• A general increase in the rate of total emergent hernias was observed — from 16 emergent hernia repairs per 100,000 person-years in 2001 to 19.2 emergent hernia repairs per 100,000 person-years in 2010.
• In 2010, emergent hernia rates were highest among adults 65 years and older.
• Femoral hernia rates were higher among women while emergent inguinal hernia rates were higher among men.
• Rates of emergent incisional hernia repair were high but relatively stable among older women; however, these rates rose significantly among older men, from 7.8 to 32 per 100,000 person-years in 2001 and 2010, respectively.