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The Abdominal Hernia-Q: a critical analysis of the components that impact quality-of-life

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Abstract

Purpose

Ventral hernias (VH) are a common surgical problem associated with significant morbidity. While assessment tools have examined quality-of-life (QoL), the relative change in specific domains of hernia-related QoL measures from pre- to post-operative period has yet to be comprehensively examined. Using the Abdominal Hernia-Q (AHQ), this study aims to assess the impact of ventral hernia repair (VHR) on key components of QoL.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients undergoing VHR between September 2017 and September 2019 who had completed at least one pre- and post-operative AHQ. Post-operative intervals were created to capture AHQ responses around standard follow-up visits (< 1.5 months, 1.5–4.5 months, 4.5–11 months, and 11 + months) and scores were statistically analyzed.

Results

A total of 136 patients were included, with an average age of 54.8 years at the time of VHR. Compared to the pre-operative period, the appearance score increased significantly (p < 0.05). The physical domain score increased from < 1.5 month to the 1.5–4.5 month period (p = 0.03) and remained significantly higher in later time period. The appearance score decreased from the 1.5–4.5 month to 4.5–11 month period (p = 0.05).

Conclusions

VHR leads to a sustained multi-dimensional increase in hernia-specific QoL measures during the post-operative course driven by early positive changes in appearance and sustained physical functioning. The initial increase in QoL is mainly driven by an improvement in appearance, while the sustained increase may be due to restored physical function.

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Funding

John P. Fischer has received payments as a consultant from Becton–Dickinson, Gore, and Integra Life Sciences. This research did not receive financial support for the study.

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Author notes

  1. G. Onyekaba and J. T. Mauch are co-first authors and contributed equally to the work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Divison of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, 51 North 39th Street, Wright Saunders Building, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    G. Onyekaba, J. T. Mauch, V. Patel, R. B. Broach, S. Thrippleton & J. P. Fischer

  2. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    G. Onyekaba, J. T. Mauch & V. Patel

Authors
  1. G. Onyekaba
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  2. J. T. Mauch
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  3. V. Patel
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  4. R. B. Broach
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  5. S. Thrippleton
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  6. J. P. Fischer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. P. Fischer.

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Conflict of interest

The remaining authors do not have any financial disclosures.

Ethical approval

The University of Pennsylvania Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved this study.

Human and animal rights

The study including human participants has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

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For this study, formal consent was not required.

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Onyekaba, G., Mauch, J.T., Patel, V. et al. The Abdominal Hernia-Q: a critical analysis of the components that impact quality-of-life. Hernia 26, 839–846 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-021-02475-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-021-02475-9

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