Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 47 (1995)Benign Anorectal Diseases - Risk Factors and Delayed Consultation - A CaseControl StudyStudent Authors: Fatma KhamisFaculty Supervisors: Dr. N. PughAbstract:Objectives This study attempts to identify possible risk factors for developing benignanorectal diseases and to define the correlates of medical consultation of benignanorectal disease patients. It also provides an overview of the number, age and sex ofpatients who were operated for benign anorectal diseases in 1994 in Al Ain Hospital.Moreover it attempts to document the most common presenting symptoms of benignanorectal diseases and to find out the patients impressions regarding their illnessbefore seeking medical advice.Methods 52 benign anorectal disease patients were interviewed and 129 patients werethe controls.Results and Conclusion The results showed that benign anorectal diseases relatedsurgical procedure are the second commonest procedure carried out in 1994. Thestudy suggests that occupation, constipation, chronic cough, varicose veins,pregnancy, illiteracy and western diet are potential risk factors for developing benignanorectal diseases. Heavy lifting and chronic cough were frequently associated withhemorrhoids. Prolonged sedentary activity was more frequently associated with fistula,and pregnancy was more frequently associated with fissure. Constipation and westerndiet showed the same distribution among patients with hemorrhoids and fissure. Analpain prolapse and anal bleeding were the most common presenting symptoms.Patients mostly think that they have hemorrhoid eventhough it was not diagnosed.76.8% of patients had a delay of more than 2 months before consulting GP’s andilliteracy was core factor behind delay.