Risk Factors of Hemorrhoids in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Rawalpindi: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: Hemorrhoids/Hemorrhoidal disease is one of the commonest diseases in surgical outdoor patient department. Several factors play role in the development of hemorrhoids and subsequently their prevalence. However, these factors are under-researched in Pakistan. This study aims to recognize the risk factors of hemorrhoids among patients in a surgical unit of Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi. This may lead to a decrease in hemorrhoids incidence and its associated social and economic burden through the prevention of risk factors that would have the main role in the development of hemorrhoids. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among one hundred and three diagnosed patients with hemorrhoids for seven months from April 2021 to October 2021 in the surgical outdoor patient department of Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi. Patient enrollment was made in the study via a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria and a non-probability convenient sampling technique. A self-designed questionnaire was applied for the collection of data. Inform consent was taken before the data collection from all participants. Data analysis was performed via SPSS (Statistical package for social sciences) version 25. Descriptive statistics were applied (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Findings: Hemorrhoids were more prevalent among the patients who had, an age group above 40 years (73.78%), male gender (66.99%), a low education level (56.31%), lower socioeconomic status (62.14%), family history of hemorrhoids (55.34%), constipation (78.64%), longer duration of stay in the toilet for evacuation (58.25%), chronic cough (51.46%), no daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables (66.99%), daily intake of spicy foods (50.48%), inadequate intake of water (60.19%), sedentary lifestyles (73.78%), and overweight (41.75%). In brief, the age group above 40 years, male gender, low educational level, lower socioeconomic status, family history of hemorrhoids, constipation, longer duration of stay in the toilet for evacuation, chronic cough, no daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, daily intake of spicy foods, inadequate intake of water, sedentary lifestyles, and high body mass index, all promote the risk of development of hemorrhoids.