Comorbid rectus abdominis diastasis is a risk factor for recurrence of umbilical hernia in Japanese patients.

The rate of comorbid umbilical hernia in Japanese patients with RAD was high, as was the recurrence rate of umbilical hernia. We strongly recommend preoperative detection of RAD. We also recommend mesh-based repair of the midline and nonabsorbable suture material to decrease the recurrence rate, irrespective of hernia size.