Ann Gastroenterol Surg. 2026 Jun 26. doi: 10.1002/ags3.70242. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIM: This study investigated nationwide trends, demographic characteristics, and seasonal patterns of rectal prolapse surgery in Japan, using healthcare claims databases.
METHODS: Surgical data were extracted from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims (NDB) from 2014 to 2023. Procedures were classified by surgical approach as conventional or laparoscopic. Crude and age-adjusted rates per 100 000 person-years were calculated. Temporal trends were assessed using linear and Poisson regression. Seasonal variations (April 2019-March 2024) were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance with post hoc comparisons, and correlations with meteorological variables were examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficients.
RESULTS: Over the decade, a total of 62 407 overall surgeries were performed, with an average annual rate of 4.7 per 100 000 person-years and an overall female-to-male ratio of 6.9:1. Overall surgery rates peaked at ages 85-89 in males (5.5 per 100 000 person-years) and females (59.1). While age-adjusted overall and conventional surgeries declined significantly, laparoscopic surgeries significantly increased (all p < 0.01). Age-adjusted overall surgery rates declined significantly in both sexes (RR = 0.960 for males, 0.983 for females, and 0.979 overall; each p < 0.0001), particularly among younger women aged 30-39 years (p < 0.0024). The mean seasonal overall surgeries exhibited distinct seasonal variation: 578.0 (SD 99.2) in spring, 440.0 (SD 85.9) in summer, 432.4 (SD 50.8) in autumn, and 544.4 (SD 71.8) in winter, and showed moderate negative correlations with temperature.
CONCLUSION: This study provides contemporary epidemiological insights into surgical management of rectal prolapse in Japan.
PMID:42495686 | PMC:PMC13394726 | DOI:10.1002/ags3.70242
