Original Paper

Epidemiology of Appendectomy and Appendicitis in the Valencian Community (Spain), 1998-2007
J.C. Andreu-Ballester^a, A. González-Sánchez^b, F. Ballester^{d, g}, A. Almela-Quilis^a, M.J. Cano-Cano^a, M. Millan-Scheiding^f, J. Ruiz del Castillo<sup>c, e

a</sup>Research Unit, Department of Emergency Medicine,
^bDepartment of Documentation and Admission and
^cDepartment of Surgery, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital,
^dCentro Superior de Investigación en Salud Pública, CSISP, Conselleria de Sanitad, and
^eSchool of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia,
^fDepartment of Surgery, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, and
^gCIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain

Address of Corresponding Author

Dig Surg 2009;26:406-412 (DOI: 10.1159/000235956)

  Key Words

• Appendectomy
• Appendicitis
• Laparoscopic appendectomy
• Epidemiology
• Mortality

  Abstract

Background/Aims: Our purpose was to study the incidence of appendectomy and appendicitis in the Valencian community (Spain) during a period of 10 years (1998-2007). Methods: Data on discharge diagnoses of appendectomy and appendicitis were downloaded from all public hospitals in the Valencian community. Results: We identified 44,683 cases of appendectomies and 42,742 cases of appendicitis (95.7%) during the study period. The age-standardized incidence rates among men ranked between 132.1 cases per 100,000 population in 2003 and 117.46 cases per 100,000 population in 2000 without a clear trend through the study period. The appendiceal perforation rate was 12.1% and the negative appendectomy rate 4.3%. The global mortality was 0.38%. Conclusions: The incidence of appendectomy in our community presents a slight descending trend. This decline is more intense in females. The appendix perforation rate is lower than in other studies. The death rate is similar to other studies; however, it is very low in patients of younger age.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Juan Carlos Andreu-Ballester, MD
Research Unit, Emergency Department, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital
c/San Clemente 12
ES-46015 Valencia (Spain)
Tel. +34 963 868 784, Fax +34 963 868 580, E-Mail jcandreu@ono.com

  Article Information

Received: May 6, 2009
Accepted: August 17, 2009
Published online: November 13, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 31