TY - JOUR

T1 - The inheritance of groin hernias

T2 - an updated systematic review with meta-analyses

AU - Öberg, S.

AU - Sæter, A. H.

AU - Rosenberg, J.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag France SAS, part of Springer Nature.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the inheritance of groin hernias. Methods: The primary outcome was to assess the inheritance based on the family history of groin hernias. We included studies that reported family history in patients with groin hernias, assessed the development of groin hernias in patients with a positive family history, or assessed the development of groin hernias in twins. Searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL in November 2021. Results were synthesized narratively and with meta-analyses. Results: Twenty-two studies with unique participants were included. While two twin studies did not show convincing results of a genetic origin in children, database studies with low risk of bias showed that a positive history in parents or siblings increased the risk of inguinal hernia in children, and the risk was highest between mothers and daughters and between sisters. In adults, patients with inguinal hernia had higher odds of having a positive family history compared with patients without groin hernia (odds ratio 5.3, 95% confidence interval 3.3–8.7), and a nationwide study found the highest risk of inguinal hernia repair when a sister had been repaired compared with a brother. This study also found that having a sibling repaired for a groin hernia increased the risk of femoral hernia repair. Conclusion: Despite studies being heterogeneous, there is overwhelming evidence that a positive family history is a risk factor for developing inguinal hernia in both children and adults, seemingly with a pronounced female–female inheritance pattern.

AB - Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the inheritance of groin hernias. Methods: The primary outcome was to assess the inheritance based on the family history of groin hernias. We included studies that reported family history in patients with groin hernias, assessed the development of groin hernias in patients with a positive family history, or assessed the development of groin hernias in twins. Searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL in November 2021. Results were synthesized narratively and with meta-analyses. Results: Twenty-two studies with unique participants were included. While two twin studies did not show convincing results of a genetic origin in children, database studies with low risk of bias showed that a positive history in parents or siblings increased the risk of inguinal hernia in children, and the risk was highest between mothers and daughters and between sisters. In adults, patients with inguinal hernia had higher odds of having a positive family history compared with patients without groin hernia (odds ratio 5.3, 95% confidence interval 3.3–8.7), and a nationwide study found the highest risk of inguinal hernia repair when a sister had been repaired compared with a brother. This study also found that having a sibling repaired for a groin hernia increased the risk of femoral hernia repair. Conclusion: Despite studies being heterogeneous, there is overwhelming evidence that a positive family history is a risk factor for developing inguinal hernia in both children and adults, seemingly with a pronounced female–female inheritance pattern.

KW - Family history

KW - Femoral hernia

KW - Groin hernia

KW - Inguinal hernia

KW - Inheritance

U2 - 10.1007/s10029-022-02718-3

DO - 10.1007/s10029-022-02718-3

M3 - Review

C2 - 36443569

AN - SCOPUS:85142878687

VL - 27

SP - 1339

EP - 1350

JO - Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery

JF - Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery

SN - 1265-4906

ER -