Congenital collagenopathies increased the risk of inguinal hernia developing and repair: analysis from a nationwide population-based cohort study

Herein, we aimed to explore whether male patients with congenital collagen diseases had a higher risk of inguinal herniation than patients without these diseases. Data were retrospectively collected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. The study cohort included 1,801 male patients diagnosed with congenital collagen diseases based on the ICD-9 CM diagnostic codes; after propensity score matching, the control group comprised 6,493 men without congenital collagen diseases. The primary endpoint was inguinal hernia repair during the observation period. During a median follow-up period of 133.9 months, the risk of inguinal herniation in the collagen group was significantly higher than that in the control group (HR = 2.237, 95% CI 1.646–3.291, p < 0.001). This phenomenon was observed in patients younger than 18 years (HR: 3.040, 95% CI 1.819–5.083, p < 0.001) and in those aged 18–80 years (HR: 1.909, 95% CI 1.186–3.073, p < 0.001). Asian men with congenital collagen diseases are at a high risk of developing inguinal hernias, regardless of age. Detailed physical examination and patient education should be performed for these patients to prevent inguinal herniation.