Study Size Impact on Accuracy of the Worldwide Incidence of Pilonidal Sinus

Abstract

Introduction: Significant variations in incidence rates have been observed in the analysis of anecdotal Pilonidal Sinus Disease (PSD) incidents worldwide. Objective: This study examines the accuracy of PSD incidence estimates and the variations associated with study size from 1833 to the present. Material and Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in global literature databases, including PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, and others, to gather any PSD incidence data reported between 1833 and 2023. Results: The study sizes ranged from 26 to 82,217,837 individuals, with incidence rates varying from 8 to 30,000 cases per 100,000 persons. Notably, in study populations below 200,000 individuals, the incidence rate ranged from 8 to 30,000 cases per 100,000 persons. However, this range narrowed when studying populations exceeding 200,000 persons, with incidence rates ranging from 7 to 300 cases per 100,000 persons. Limitations: No limitations were identified in this study. Conclusion: The findings suggest reliable PSD incidences can be calculated with study populations exceeding 200,000 individuals. In such cases, the variability of incidence rates decreases as study size increases, although other known and unknown factors continue to influence the outcomes.