Obesity is a risk factor for recurrence after incisional hernia repair

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Abstract
Background: Any individualisation of incisional hernia repair requires a profound knowledge of risk factors for recurrence. Methods: A series of 160 patients underwent incisional hernia repair and were prospectively followed up at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. We analysed the importance of various variables to predict recurrence. Results: An overall recurrence rate of 11% (n=17) was observed. The risk for recurrence was not significantly affected by any of the clinical variables except for obesity (P=0.03). Even when controlling for the influence of age, gender, hernia size, and surgical technique, obesity remained a significant predictor with a rate ratio of 1.10 per unit BMI (95%-CI: 1.02–1.18; P=0.01). Conclusion: This and other studies found hernia recurrence to be more likely in obese patients. Probably, such patients, therefore, should receive mesh rather than suture repair.