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Waist Circumference is not Superior to Body Mass Index in Predicting Groin Hernia Repair in Either Men or Women

Hemberg, A. LU ; Montgomery, A. LU ; Holmberg, H. LU and Nordin, P. (2022) In World Journal of Surgery 46(2). p.401-408
Abstract

Background and aims: A high body mass index (BMI) is considered a risk factor for ventral abdominal wall hernias but protective for the development of groin hernias. The reason for this is unclear. The surrounding abdominal fat in obesity might “protect” and limit the passage through the inguinal canal. The aim was to compare two different methods used for obesity registration in groin hernia patients and to investigate the hypothesis of high BMI/low groin hernia risk phenomenon. Methods: This was a population-based observational study comparing BMI to waist circumference (WC) as well as their correlations to the quantity of groin hernia repair performed in either sex. Two national registers were crosslinked to a large regional register... (More)

Background and aims: A high body mass index (BMI) is considered a risk factor for ventral abdominal wall hernias but protective for the development of groin hernias. The reason for this is unclear. The surrounding abdominal fat in obesity might “protect” and limit the passage through the inguinal canal. The aim was to compare two different methods used for obesity registration in groin hernia patients and to investigate the hypothesis of high BMI/low groin hernia risk phenomenon. Methods: This was a population-based observational study comparing BMI to waist circumference (WC) as well as their correlations to the quantity of groin hernia repair performed in either sex. Two national registers were crosslinked to a large regional register including information on WC. Results: A larger WC and a higher BMI were associated with a lower risk of having groin hernia repair in both sexes. There was no difference using either WC or BMI as a risk factor for groin hernia repair in either sex. There was no advantage to using body composition based on WC rather than BMI for surgery indication. Conclusions: Overweight patients, both men and women, have a lower risk of undergoing groin hernia repair regardless of fat distribution. BMI is a well-established method for obesity registration and is recommended in the evaluation of hernia patients.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
World Journal of Surgery
volume
46
issue
2
pages
401 - 408
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85118432612
  • pmid:34727205
ISSN
0364-2313
DOI
10.1007/s00268-021-06359-y
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).
id
0228d738-07e4-473a-b49b-0eddfe74c11a
date added to LUP
2021-12-02 12:51:54
date last changed
2024-06-17 00:38:58
@article{0228d738-07e4-473a-b49b-0eddfe74c11a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background and aims: A high body mass index (BMI) is considered a risk factor for ventral abdominal wall hernias but protective for the development of groin hernias. The reason for this is unclear. The surrounding abdominal fat in obesity might “protect” and limit the passage through the inguinal canal. The aim was to compare two different methods used for obesity registration in groin hernia patients and to investigate the hypothesis of high BMI/low groin hernia risk phenomenon. Methods: This was a population-based observational study comparing BMI to waist circumference (WC) as well as their correlations to the quantity of groin hernia repair performed in either sex. Two national registers were crosslinked to a large regional register including information on WC. Results: A larger WC and a higher BMI were associated with a lower risk of having groin hernia repair in both sexes. There was no difference using either WC or BMI as a risk factor for groin hernia repair in either sex. There was no advantage to using body composition based on WC rather than BMI for surgery indication. Conclusions: Overweight patients, both men and women, have a lower risk of undergoing groin hernia repair regardless of fat distribution. BMI is a well-established method for obesity registration and is recommended in the evaluation of hernia patients.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hemberg, A. and Montgomery, A. and Holmberg, H. and Nordin, P.}},
  issn         = {{0364-2313}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{401--408}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{World Journal of Surgery}},
  title        = {{Waist Circumference is not Superior to Body Mass Index in Predicting Groin Hernia Repair in Either Men or Women}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00268-021-06359-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00268-021-06359-y}},
  volume       = {{46}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}