Epidemiology of Benign Anorectal Diseases in the military population: Insights from a Single-Center Cohort Study

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Objective: This study aims to analyze the distribution and clinical characteristics of benign anorectal diseases among the Republic of Korea military personnel and identify their occurrence within the unique military environment.Method: For this retrospective cohort study, we used data from the medical records of patients diagnosed with benign anorectal diseases at the Armed Forces Chuncheon Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023. We reviewed patient demographics, symptoms, physical examination findings, diagnoses, and treatment plans. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to determine the frequency, distribution, and primary clinical characteristics.Results : Among the 959 patients who visited the surgical department during the study period, 293 were diagnosed with benign anorectal diseases. Hemorrhoids were the most common diagnosis (internal hemorrhoids 36.9%, external hemorrhoids 24.6%, mixed hemorrhoids 5.1%), followed by anal fissures (acute 19.8%, chronic 4.4%), perianal abscesses (3.1%), and fistulas (3.1%). The most common chief complaints were hematochezia (58.4%), anal pain (23.6%), and anal mass (10.2%). Most patients (96.3%) received conservative treatments while 3.1% required hospitalization and 18.1% were referred to secondary or tertiary hospitals.Conclusion : This study confirms that benign anorectal diseases, particularly hemorrhoids and anal fissures, are also common health concerns among military personnel. Most patients could be treated conservatively and only a few required referral to higher-level care. These findings suggest that greater attention is needed to mitigate the impact of benign anorectal diseases on the operational readiness and overall health of military personnel.

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