Clinicodemographic Profile of Patients Admitted With Acute Appendicitis: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Keywords:
Acute Appendicitis, Alvarado Score, Clinicodemographic Profile, Negative Appendectomy, Perforated Appendicitis, Ultrasonography.Abstract
Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies worldwide, yet its clinical presentation, diagnostic pathway, and disease severity vary across populations. Locally generated clinicodemographic data can help refine diagnostic pathways and anticipate complicated disease.
Objective: To describe the clinicodemographic profile, diagnostic workup, operative findings, and outcomes of patients admitted with acute appendicitis, and to compare clinical and laboratory parameters between complicated and uncomplicated disease.
Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 200 consecutive patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis over a 12-month period. Demographic details, symptom duration, clinical signs, Alvarado score, laboratory parameters, imaging findings, operative details, and histopathological outcomes were recorded. Diagnostic performance of the Alvarado score, ultrasonography, and computed tomography was assessed against the final histopathological diagnosis. Complicated (gangrenous/perforated) and uncomplicated appendicitis were compared using the chi-square and independent-samples t-test as appropriate.
Results: The mean age was 28.6 ± 11.4 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1. Migratory right iliac fossa pain was present in 71.0% and fever in 47.0% of patients. Ultrasonography demonstrated a diagnostic accuracy of 81.8%, rising to 96.2% with computed tomography in equivocal cases. Histopathology confirmed acute appendicitis in 92.0% of specimens (negative appendectomy rate 6.0%), with gangrenous or perforated appendicitis in 35.0% of confirmed cases. Symptom duration beyond 48 hours, an Alvarado score ≥7, and elevated C-reactive protein were significantly more frequent among patients with complicated appendicitis (all p<0.001).
Conclusion: Acute appendicitis in this cohort predominantly affected young adults with a male preponderance and typical clinical features. Delayed presentation and elevated inflammatory markers were strongly associated with complicated disease, underscoring the value of early clinical recognition and judicious imaging in reducing perforation-related morbidity.
