Risk factors associated with colonic diverticulosis among patients from a defined geographic area

• Published in: Techniques in coloproctology 2016-03, Vol.20 (3), p.177-183
• Main Authors: Dore, M. P., Pes, G. M., Marras, G., Soro, S., Rocchi, C., Loria, M. F., Bassotti, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Colon - pathology; Colon - surgery; Colonoscopy - methods; Colorectal Surgery; Diverticulosis, Colonic - epidemiology; Diverticulosis, Colonic - etiology; Diverticulosis, Colonic - pathology; Female; Gastroenterology; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Obesity - complications; Obesity - epidemiology; Original Article; Prevalence; Proctology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sentinel Surveillance; Surgery
• ISSN: 1123-6337; 1128-045X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10151-015-1401-7

Background Only a few data regarding colonic diverticulosis are available in Italy. We examined the frequency of colonic diverticulosis and its associations with risk factors in a homogeneous Northern Sardinian population undergoing colonoscopy for any reason in the last decades. Methods This was a retrospective single-center study. Medical records of patients undergoing colonoscopy for any indication between 1995 and 2013 were reviewed. Demographic information including age, gender, geographic area (urban, rural), marital status, smoking habit, occupation, body mass index, and comorbidities were collected. Presence, number, and extension of diverticula were assessed by colonoscopy. The diagnosis of diverticulosis was defined by the presence of more than five diverticula. Results A total of 4458 records were collected (39.8 % males). Analysis by birth cohorts showed a significant progressive age-related increase in the prevalence of diverticulosis. The average prevalence was 18.9 % without significant variation across the 19-year observation period. In 101 (12.1 %) subjects diverticula were single or few. Seventy-one percent of diverticula were located predominantly in the left side, 2 % in the right side, and 14.3 % were spread throughout the colon. There was a significant association with obesity but not with smoking habits, marital status, or urban versus rural environment. A strong association was observed between the presence of diverticulosis and cardiovascular and other gastrointestinal and lung disease ( p