Prevalence and risk factors of Appendicitis at Surgery Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Appendicitis needs immediate surgical intervention based on indication in the pediatric age group. Among high-risk young children, the prevalence of pre-existing perforation ranges from 30% to 75%. Aim: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for appendicitis in the inpatient surgical department. Place and Duration: Study was conducted at surgical department of Combined Military Hospital, Rawalakot for the period of six months from October 2020 to March 2021. Materials and Methods: A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted on 102 patients with acute appendicitis diagnosed and confirmed by Ultrasonography among the patients admitted to the surgical department during October 2020 to March 2021. Pretested questionnaire were used to collect and record the necessary information. Results: The sample size of 102 patients had 61 (60%) males and 41 (40%) were females. Appendicitis patients were divided into four age groups: 10-19 years 16 (15.7%), 20-29 years 19 (32.35%), 30-39 years 15 (14.7%), 40-49 years 14 (13.7%), and 50-59 years 7 (.6.8 %). The male-to-female ratio was 3:2. (60 %, 40 %). The most common complaints are abdominal pain (100%), vomiting (55.12%), and fever (87.21%). Based on histopathological diagnosis, the categorical distributions of appendicitis were Acute Appendicitis (48.10%), Lymphoid Hyperplasia (25.50%), and Resolving Appendicitis (47.05%). Conclusion: The prevalence of acute appendicitis is more common in males especially in the age group of 20-29 years based on histological diagnosis. Keywords: Appendicitis, Cross-sectional Study