Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Hebesberger, C.
Epidemiological analysis of appendectomy specimens in Southern Austria: a 30-year retrospective survey
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2019. pp. 71
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Langner Cord
- Pollheimer Marion
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- Abstract:
- Aims: Acute appendicitis is the most frequent surgical emergency in the western world with a life-time risk of 7-9% for both genders. However, according to Literature data, the life-time risk to undergo appendectomy is 23% for females and 12% for males. We aimed to analyse gender distribution, patient age and date of surgery in the reports of appendectomy specimens diagnosed at the Institute of Pathology (Medical University of Graz). Methods: During the study period from 1987 to 2016, a total of 56,612 appendectomy specimens were analysed. Data regarding gender, age and date of surgery were available for all cases. Associations between gender, age and date of surgery (classified into categories comprising ten-year intervals) were analysed using the Fisher’s exact test or Chi square test, as appropriate. In addition, nationwide appendectomy data provided online by Statistics Austria regarding gender and date of surgery for the time period from 1997 to 2016 were analysed. Associations between gender and date of surgery were analysed using the Chi square test. A total of 1,100 pathology reports were chosen randomly to analyse gender differences regarding the extent of (acute and chronic) inflammation diagnosed on the appendectomy specimens. Results: Overall, there were 31,625 females (55.9%) and 24,987 males (44.1%), with a female/male ratio of 1.27:1. The female/male ratio showed a significant (p<0.001) decrease over time: from 1.31:1 (1987-1996 and 1997-2006) to 1.1:1 (2007-2016). Female predominance was most evident at the age group of 16-25 years. In the age group of 16-25 years, the female/male ratio showed a significant (p<0.001) decrease from the first (female/male ratio = 1.85:1) to the third decade (female/male ratio = 1.35:1). The female/male ratio of nationwide appendectomies showed a significant (p<0.001) decrease during the provided time period. Appendectomy specimens of women were diagnosed with no/low-grade and high-grade inflammation in 58.4% and 41.6% of cases, in contrast to appendectomy specimens of men that demonstrated no/low grade and high-grade inflammation in 26% and 74% of cases, respectively (p<0.001). The percentage of no/low-grade inflammation in female and male appendices decreased over time (p=0.38). Conclusion: Our results support available Literature evidence in that females bear a higher risk to undergo appendectomy than males and more often with no/low-grade inflammation. However, these differences adjusted during the study period, in particular within the last decade. Most probably, a more thorough diagnostic work-up with the use of improved imaging technologies contributed to this adjustment.