Risk Factors for Hemorrhoids on Screening Colonoscopy

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Epidemiology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Commonly assumed risk factors for hemorrhoids include constipation, low fiber diet, sedentary lifestyle, and gravidity.
• Limited evidence currently exists to support these assumed associations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between commonly cited risk factors and the prevalence of hemorrhoids.
• To provide evidence-based insights into hemorrhoid etiology.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,813 participants undergoing colonoscopy.
• Data on bowel habits, diet, and physical activity were collected, and hemorrhoid presence was extracted from colonoscopy reports.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for age and sex, calculating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

• Constipation was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of hemorrhoids (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.11-1.86).
• High grain fiber intake was linked to a reduced risk (OR for quartile 4 vs. 1 = 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.98).
• Sedentary behavior showed a reduced risk (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.65-0.98), while gravidity, physical activity, and overweight/obesity status did not show significant associations.

Conclusions:

• Constipation is a significant risk factor for hemorrhoid development.
• High grain fiber intake and sedentary behavior are associated with a decreased risk of hemorrhoids.
• Gravidity and general physical activity levels do not appear to be associated with hemorrhoid prevalence.