Published date:Mar 31 2023

Journal Title: Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences

Issue title: Sudan JMS: Volume 18 (2023), Issue No. 1

Pages:63 – 70

DOI: 10.18502/sjms.v18i1.12866

Gamal E.H.A. Shallalygamalshallaly@hotmail.comDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Alzaiem Alazhari University

El Fatih M. MalikFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan

Mohamed Abdelmonem AliFaculty of Medicine, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan

Maysa H. M. HamzaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Karary University, Sudan

Babikir A. B. IbrahimDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan

Hassan E.H.M. AhmedDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan

Mohamed M. I. ElhajahmedDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan

Modather M.E. SalihDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan

Background: Anal fissures and hemorrhoids are common anal conditions. They cause significant morbidity, social embarrassment, and work absenteeism. In addition, they form a significant workload on the healthcare system. Nevertheless, the etiology of these conditions is still contentious. It has been observed that hemorrhoids and anal fissures are associated with prolonged sitting. This study aims to investigate this observation.
Methods: This is a case–control study. We compared 81 patients with symptomatic and endoscopically proven hemorrhoids and/or anal fissures with 162 controls with no symptoms or endoscopic evidence of perianal disease. The study was conducted at Khartoum North Teaching Hospital (KNTH) endoscopy unit between January and December 2019. Demographic data, sitting hours per day, and endoscopic findings of patients and controls were recorded in a proforma. The cases and controls were matched for age, sex, and bowel habits. Data were analyzed and compared using the SPSS version 23.
Results: The mean sitting hours for cases was 5.99 (SD 3.4) whereas that for controls was 4.0 (SD 3.0) with a highly significant difference (P < 0.001). Sitting for 5 hr or more per day (exposure) was associated with an increased risk of developing hemorrhoids and/or anal fissures [odds ratio 3.68, 95% CI: 2.1–6.47].
Conclusion: The study showed that sitting down for 5 hr or more per day might increase the risk of developing hemorrhoids and/or anal fissures. This finding could help in the prevention and treatment of these diseases and the reduction of recurrences.

Keywords: hemorrhoids, fissure, endoscopy, prolonged sitting hours

[1] Sandler, R. S., & Peery, A. F. (2019). Rethinking what we know about hemorrhoids. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 17(1), 8–15.

[2] Ganz, R. A. (2013). The evaluation and treatment of haemorrhoids: A guide for the gastroenterologist. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 11, 593–603.

[3] Peery, A. F., Sandler, R. S., Galanko, J. A., Bresalier, R. S., Figueiredo, J. C., Ahnen, D. J., Barry, E. L., & Baron, J. A. (2015). Risk factors for haemorrhoids on screening colonoscopy. PLoS One, 10(9), e0139100.

[4] Kaidar-Person, O., Person, B., & Wexner, S. D. (2007). Haemorrhoidal disease: A comprehensive review. American College of Surgeons, 204(1), 102–117.

[5] Johanson, J. F., & Sonnenberg, A. (1994). Constipation is not a risk factor for haemorrhoids: A case–control study of potential etiological agents. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 89(11), 1981–1986.

[6] Gardner, I. H., Siddharthan, R. V., & Tsikitis, V. L. (2020). Benign anorectal disease: Hemorrhoids, fissures, and fistulas. Annals of Gastroenterology, 33, 9–18.

[7] Beaty, J. S., & Shashidharan, M. (2016). Anal fissure. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery, 29, 30–37.

[8] Mapel, D. W., Schum, M., & Worley, A. V. (2014). The epidemiology and treatment of anal fissures in a population-based cohort. BMC Gastroenterology, 14, 129.

[9] Casberg, M. A. (1949). Infected pilonidal cysts and sinuses. Bulletin of the US Army Medical Department, 9, 493–496.

[10] Clothier, P. R., & Haywood, I. R. (1984). The natural history of the post anal (pilonidal) sinus. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 6, 201–203.

[11] Gordon, P. H., & Nivatvongs, S. (1999). Principles and practice of surgery for the colon, rectum and anus (p. 218). 2nd Ed. St. Louis, MO: Quality Medical Publishing, Inc.

[12] Klosterhalfen, B., Vogel, P., Rixen, H., & Mittermayer, C. (1989). Topography of the inferior rectal artery: A possible cause of chronic, primary anal fissure. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 32(1), 43–52.

[13] Schouten, W. R., Briel, J. W., & Auwerda, J. J. (1994). Relationship between anal pressure and anodermal blood flow. The vascular pathogenesis of anal fissures. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 37(7), 664–669.

[14] Corman, M. L. (1998). Haemorrhoids. In M. L. Corman (Ed.) Colon and rectal surgery (pp. 147–205). 4th Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott-Raven.

[15] Thomson, W. H. (1975). The nature of haemorrhoids. British Journal of Surgery, 62, 542–552.