Appendicitis risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farwa Haideri [2]

Overview

Identifying risk factors that predict the likelihood of complications is a crucial step in managing appendicitis. Appendicitis is most common among people in the age group of 10 to 30 years old. Appendicitis leads to more emergency abdominal surgeries than any other cause.

Risk Factors

The most common cases of appendicitis occur between the ages of 10 and 30 years, and it is the most likely cause of acute abdomen pain in the United States, with a 5-20% chance of lifetime risk.^[1]^[2]

In Adults

Common risk factors for adults include:^[2]

Steroid use
Diabetes
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In Children

Common risk factors in children include:^[1]

Appendicitis results in the most common need for emergency abdominal surgery.
A family history of appendicitis increases the child’s risk, especially in males.
- Male children with cystic fibrosis are at an even higher risk.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 “Appendicitis – The University of Chicago Medicine”. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Margenthaler JA, Longo WE, Virgo KS, Johnson FE, Oprian CA, Henderson WG, Daley J, Khuri SF (2003). “Risk factors for adverse outcomes after the surgical treatment of appendicitis in adults”. Ann. Surg. 238 (1): 59–66. doi:10.1097/01.SLA.0000074961.50020.f8. PMC 1422654. PMID 12832966.

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[urlAppendicitis_-_The_University_of_Chicago_Medicine-1] 1.0 ^1.1 “Appendicitis – The University of Chicago Medicine”. Retrieved November 30, 2015.

[pmid12832966-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Margenthaler JA, Longo WE, Virgo KS, Johnson FE, Oprian CA, Henderson WG, Daley J, Khuri SF (2003). “Risk factors for adverse outcomes after the surgical treatment of appendicitis in adults”. Ann. Surg. 238 (1): 59–66. doi:10.1097/01.SLA.0000074961.50020.f8. PMC 1422654. PMID 12832966.

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