Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
05:15
Application of a New Mesh Fixation Method in Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia Repair
Published on: December 23, 2022
Risk factors for inguinal hernia in adult males: a case-control study
Hung Lau1, Christian Fang, Wai K Yuen
1Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong Medical Center, Queen May Hospital & Tung Wah Hospital, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. lauh@hkucc.hku.hk
Surgery
|February 1, 2007
Summary
A family history of inguinal hernia significantly increases the risk for adult males. Having a positive family history makes a male subject about 8 times more likely to develop this common surgical condition.
Area of Science:
- General Surgery
- Clinical Epidemiology
Background:
- Inguinal hernia is a prevalent surgical pathology with limited research on predisposing clinical factors.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for prevention and management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and evaluate clinical risk factors associated with the development of inguinal hernia in adult males.
- Utilized a case-control design within a hospital-based population.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 1,418 male patients between 2002 and 2004 from a university-affiliated teaching hospital.
- Classified patients into case (primary inguinal hernia) and control groups.
- Collected data via standardized questionnaires and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Higher work and total activity indices, positive family history of hernia, and chronic obstructive airway disease were associated with inguinal hernia.
- Family history of hernia (odds ratio = 8.73) and chronic obstructive airway disease (odds ratio = 2.04) were significant risk factors.
- Logistic regression identified a positive family history of hernia as the sole independent predictor.
Conclusions:
- A positive family history of hernia is the most significant determinant for developing inguinal hernia in adult males.
- Individuals with a family history of hernia face an approximately 8-fold increased likelihood of developing primary inguinal hernia.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
Men's health issues are increasingly recognized as significant, with several conditions posing common threats. Among these, testicular cancer is especially prevalent in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 35 years. The disease often manifests as a painless mass in the testicles, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of heaviness or a dull ache.
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
01:23Infertility in Males
Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
01:25Hiatal Hernia
A hiatal hernia is the abnormal protrusion of the stomach or other abdominal organs through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity.Normally, the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) lies below the diaphragm and is supported by the phrenoesophageal membrane, the diaphragmatic crura, and connective tissues. Weakening of these structures—due to aging, congenital defects like a short esophagus, or increased intra-abdominal pressure from coughing, obesity, pregnancy, or heavy...
01:28Amebiasis
Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
01:19Abdominal Regions and Quadrants
To promote clear communication, for instance, about the location of a patient's abdominal pain or a suspicious mass, anatomists and clinicians typically use imaginary lines to categorize the abdominopelvic cavity into either four quadrants or nine regions to identify organs in the cavity.
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four quadrants...
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four quadrants...