The prevalence of proctological symptoms amongst patients who see general practitioners in France

Figures & data

Table 1. Description of diagnostic approach for 20 patients seen spontaneously for a proctological problem versus the 133 patients for whom it was shown that there was a proctological problem after questioning:.

	Patients coming spontaneously for a proctological problem (n = 20) n (%)	Proctological problem after questioning (n = 133) n (%)	P-value^a
Complaints
Bleeding	8 (40.0)	41 (30.8)	0.4
Pain	12 (60.0)	35 (26.3)	0.004
Anal lump	2 (10.0)	31 (23.3)	0.2
Anal discharge	4 (20.0)	18 (13.5)	0.5
Uncontrolled anal leakage	0	22 (16.5)	0.08
Constipation	4 (20.0)	47 (35.3)	0.2
Diarrhoea	1 (5.0)	11 (8.3)	1.0
Pruritus ani	8 (40.0)	26 (19.6)	0.08
Examinations
Examination of anal margin	16 (80.0)	75 (56.4)	0.05
Rectal examination	10 (50.0)	39 (29.3)	0.08
Anoscopy	2 (10.0)	1 (0.8)	0.045
Other clinical examination	4 (20.0)	2 (1.5)	0.003
At least one clinical examination in addition to questioning	18 (90.0)	79 (59.4)	0.01
Additional examinations	2 (10.0)	4 (3.0)	0.2
Diagnoses
Haemorrhoids	11 (55.0)	63 (47.4)	0.6
Anal fissure	4 (20.0)	10 (7.5)	0.09
Abscess and/or anal fistula	1 (5.0)	1 (0.8)	0.2
Dermatology disorder	2 (10.0)	9 (6.8)	0.6
Functional disorder	2 (10.0)	48 (36.1)	0.02
Tumour	0	0	–
Anorectal STI	0	0	–
Treatment
At least one treatment prescribed	19 (95.0)	97 (72.9)	0.046

^aFisher's Exact test.

Table 2. Treatment of 74 patients diagnosed with haemorrhoids.

	n (%)
Topical	49 (66.2)
Venotonics	28 (37.8)
Laxatives	15 (20.3)
Anti-diarrhoeal	0 (0)
Suppository	2 (2.8)
Oral analgesic	4 (5.6)
Oral anti-inflammatory	3 (4.1)
Antibiotic	0 (0)
Local anaesthetic	1 (1.4)
Local antiseptic	0 (0)
Surgical procedure by the GP	2 (2.7)

Table 3. Factors influencing referral to a specialist among the 153 patients seen for a proctological problem.

	Univariate analysis Referral to a specialist n (%)		P-value^a
	Yes (n = 92)	No (n = 61)
Bleeding	32 (65.3)	17 (34.7)	0.4
Pain	29 (61.7)	18 (38.3)	0.9
Anal lump	17 (51.5)	1 (48.5)	0.3
Anal discharge	19 (86.4)	3 (13.6)	0.01
Uncontrolled anal leakage	19 (86.4)	3 (13.6)	0.01
Constipation	27 (52.9)	24 (47.1)	0.2
Diarrhoea	10 (83.3)	2 (1.7)	0.1
Pruritus ani	21 (61.8)	13 (38.2)	1.0
Haemorrhoids	43 (58.1)	31 (41.9)	0.7
Anal fissure	9 (64.3)	5 (35.7)	1.0
Abscess and/or anal fistula	2 (100.0)	0 (0)	0.5
Dermatology disorder	4 (36.4)	7 (63.6)	0.1
Functional disorder	32 (64.0)	18 (36.0)	0.6
Tumour	–	–	–
Anorectal STI	–	–	–
Questioning	85 (59.0)	59 (41.0)	0.3
Examination of anal margin	55 (60.4)	36 (39.6)	1.0
Rectal examination	35 (71.4)	14 (28.6)	0.05
Anoscopy	0 (0)	3 (100.0)	0.06
Other clinical examination	5 (83.3)	1 (16.7)	0.4

^aFisher's Exact test.