Seasonal Changes in the Incidence of Appendicitis in Diyarbakır, Turkey: Retrospective Study

Objective: The most common cause of acute abdomen requiring surgical intervention worldwide is appendicitis (AP). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between seasonal changes and the incidence of AP in Diyarbakır. Material and Methods: Patients who underwent an appendectomy with an AP diagnosis between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into the following three groups on the basis of the general surgeons’ findings during AP surgery: Group 1, acute appendicitis (AA); Group 2, plastron appendicitis (PLA); and Group 3, perforated appendicitis (PA). The patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, and season of the year. Results: A total of 1,937 patients who participated in the study were divided into three groups: Group 1 (n=1,828), Group 2 (n=24), and Group 3 (n=85). AA was diagnosed most frequently in summer (28.1%). PLA (1.2%) and PA (4.4%) were diagnosed most frequently in fall (1.2%). The seasonal evaluation indicated that the number of patients was significantly higher in summer than in the other seasons (p=0.049). Conclusion: Seasonal changes were observed in the frequency of AP diagnoses. The incidence of AA increased in parallel with the increase in air temperature in the city. It was highest in summer.