The Association of Body Mass Index and Perforation of the Appendix in Puerto Rican Children

Objective. Puerto Rico Department of Health lacks data on appendicitis since 1996. We inquired about factors influencing perforation. Methods. Retrospective study of risk factors among Puerto Rican children with appendicitis from 2002–2008. Results. One hundred and seventy records were reviewed. Appendiceal perforation = 38%. Median age was 10 years. Risk factors for perforation were age younger than five years, onset of symptoms more than 36 hours previously, public insurance, more than two examiners, and public hospital. Obese patients had a tendency to present with perforation (OR: 1.5 (0.6–3.5)). In the multivariate analysis, the only variables that remained significant were age younger than five years (OR: 10.2 (2.2–46.7)), and onset of symptoms more than 36 hours previously (OR: 5.9 (2.3–14.7)). Conclusion. Age younger than five years and onset of symptoms more than 36 hours previously were associated with perforation of the appendix. Body mass index for age percentile greater than the 95th had a tendency to present with perforation.