Exploring the Seasonal Variation of Anorectal Disease: A Comprehensive Study

Abstract

The occurrence of medical illnesses varies with the seasons, which are influenced by the environment. This variation can be valuable for healthcare administrators in effectively allocating resources. While seasonal variation has been extensively studied in infectious and surgical diseases, it has received limited attention in the case of perianal diseases. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the seasonal variation specifically in hemorrhoids and fissures. We conducted a retrospective analysis on patients admitted with hemorrhoids and fissures between January 2010 and December 2019. To assess seasonality, we utilized the chi-square goodness-of-fit test, a statistical method widely recognized for its ability to determine if observed data aligns with expected frequencies. By adjusting for variations in the number of days between seasons, we aimed to ensure accurate and reliable results. Overall, 49,046 patients were admitted with hemorrhoids, and 33,480 patients were admitted with anal fissures during the study period. The frequency of admitted hemorrhoids varied between months (minimum: June, n = 3865; maximum: March, n = 4591; P < 0.001) and seasons (minimum: summer, n = 11771; maximum: spring, n = 12989; P = 0.03). The frequency of admitted anal fissures also varied between months (minimum: June, n = 2356; maximum: March, n = 3244; P < 0.001) and seasons (minimum: summer, n = 7180; maximum: winter, n = 9246; P = 0.04). Age and gender distribution across months and seasons were similar (P > 0.05 for each). Our research findings confirm that there is a seasonal variation in the occurrence of hemorrhoids and fissures. Specifically, we have observed that the spring and winter seasons have the highest number of cases for each condition, while the summer season has the lowest. These results highlight the importance of considering seasonal factors when studying these medical conditions.