Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Inguinal Hernia Patients: ARetrospective Analysis

Background: Inguinal hernia is among the most common surgical conditions in the world and causesapproximately 75% of all abdominal wall hernias. Pathogenesis is polyfactorial with anatomical, occupational,and possibly genetic determinants. Local demographic and clinical characteristics are underreported, particularlyin low-resource environments, despite the prevalence being high.Objective: To characterize the demographic and clinical profile of primary inguinal hernia patients in terms ofoccupational risk factors, anatomical types, and presentation.Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, AIIMS Patna, in 80patients aged 15-75 years with established diagnosis of primary inguinal hernia and undergoing elective surgicalrepair. Patients were randomly allocated to laparoscopic (TAPP/TEP) and open (Lichtenstein) repair.Demographic, occupation, type, site, and duration of hernia data were collected and analyzed in SPSS v27, andp<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: 98.75% were males out of 80 patients. The most prevalent occupation was agriculturists (33.75%),indicating a connection with hard work. Inguinal swellings were prevalent in 70% patients, and 50% patients hadsymptoms for 1–6 months. Indirect hernias were the most prevalent (71.25%).Conclusion: Inguinal hernia is predominantly found in men, especially those who work in high-strain jobs.Indirect hernias are the most common and are usually presented late. Such findings emphasize the need for targetedawareness and early intervention measures, especially among high-risk occupational groups.