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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Inguinal hernia epidemiology and demographics

Introduction

Overview

Overview

The incidence of inguinal hernia is approximately 110 per 100,000 individuals in years aged 16-24 years to 2000 per 100,000 person years aged 75 years or above in men. The prevalence of inguinal hernia is approximately 1700 per 100,000 individuals for all ages and 4000 per 100,000 for those aged over 45 years worldwide. The incidence of inguinal hernia increases with age; the median age at diagnosis is 40-59 years. Male are more commonly affected by inguinal hernia than female. The male to female ratio is approximately 9 to 1.

Epidemiology and Demographics

Epidemiology and Demographics

Incidence

  • The incidence of inguinal hernia is approximately 110 per 100,000 individuals in years aged 16-24 years to 2000 per 100,000 person years aged 75 years or above in men.[1]

Prevalence

  • The prevalence of inguinal hernia is approximately 1700 per 100,000 individuals for all ages and 4000 per 100,000 for those aged over 45 years worldwide.[2]

Case-fatality rate/Mortality rate

  • The 30 day mortality rate of 2000 per 100,000 in patients under 60 years old and 48000 per 100,000 individuals in those over 60 years old after elective surgery.[3]

Age

  • Patients of all age groups may develop inguinal hernia.[4]
  • The incidence of inguinal hernia increases with age; the median age at diagnosis is 40-59 years.[5]
  • Direct inguinal hernia commonly affects middle-aged and elderly individuals because the abdominal walls weakens with age.
  • Indirect inguinal hernias can occur at any age including the young individuals.

Race

  • Inguinal hernia affects individuals of the Caucasian more than Afriacn-American.[6]

Gender

  • Male are more commonly affected by inguinal hernia than female. The male to female ratio is approximately 9 to 1.[7]
References

References

  1. ↑ Jenkins JT, O’Dwyer PJ (2008). “Inguinal hernias”. BMJ. 336 (7638): 269–72. doi:10.1136/bmj.39450.428275.AD. PMC 2223000. PMID 18244999.
  2. ↑ Kingsnorth A, LeBlanc K (2003). “Hernias: inguinal and incisional”. Lancet. 362 (9395): 1561–71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14746-0. PMID 14615114.
  3. ↑ Bay-Nielsen M, Kehlet H, Strand L, Malmstrøm J, Andersen FH, Wara P, Juul P, Callesen T (2001). “Quality assessment of 26,304 herniorrhaphies in Denmark: a prospective nationwide study”. Lancet. 358 (9288): 1124–8. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06251-1. PMID 11597665.
  4. ↑ Jenkins, J. T; O’Dwyer, P. J (2008). “Inguinal hernias”. BMJ. 336 (7638): 269–272. doi:10.1136/bmj.39450.428275.AD. ISSN 0959-8138.
  5. ↑ Ruhl, C. E.; Everhart, J. E. (2007). “Risk Factors for Inguinal Hernia among Adults in the US Population”. American Journal of Epidemiology. 165 (10): 1154–1161. doi:10.1093/aje/kwm011. ISSN 0002-9262.
  6. ↑ Ruhl CE, Everhart JE (2007). “Risk factors for inguinal hernia among adults in the US population”. Am. J. Epidemiol. 165 (10): 1154–61. doi:10.1093/aje/kwm011. PMID 17374852.
  7. ↑ Fitzgibbons RJ, Forse RA (2015). “Clinical practice. Groin hernias in adults”. N. Engl. J. Med. 372 (8): 756–63. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1404068. PMID 25693015.

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