Hemorrhoids and quality of life: “… two things incompatible”?

Hemorrhoids is one of the most common diseases in human. According to the latest data for 2017, the prevalence rates of hemorrhoids per 100 000 population in Russia are 410,3 in adults, 26.7 in children aged 15 to 17 years and 4,0 in children under 14 years old. Quality of life (QoL) is an important non-specific subjective parameter of well-being, representing an integrative characteristic of the physical, psychological, social and emotional status of the patient. Despite the high prevalence of hemorrhoids and the variety of modern methods of surgical treatment, there are very few studies addressing the QoL in this category of patients. There are significant differences between the patient and the Coloproctologist in the perception of HD, which, possibly, can lead to the hypertrophy of indications for surgical treatment. Understanding the effect of HD on social life and the concept of the well-being of a particular patient can help the doctor choose between conservative and surgical approaches in the treatment of hemorrhoids. On the other hand, due to the excessive shyness and mentality in our country, patients with HD tend to adapt to their disease, which leads to later seeking medical help and suboptimal efficacy of conservative therapy and minimally invasive surgical methods.

This review presents the first Russian multicenter observational program EQUALISER (impact of different trEatment modalities on QUAlity of life of the patientS with acute and chronic hEmorRhoid disease) aimed at assessing the QoL of patients with HD, as well as the effect of the treatment method and types of surgical treatment on the social adaptation of the population.

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