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

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Abstract

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 < 0.0001). These associations were also confirmed by the logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions

In this endoscopic study, colonic diverticulosis in Northern Sardinia showed prevalence similar to other series in Western countries, and it was predominantly left sided and age related.

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Author contribution

M.P. Dore, G.M. Pes, and G. Bassotti were involved in the study design, statistical analysis, interpretation of data, and drafting of the manuscript. M.P. Dore, G. Marras, S. Soro, and C. Rocchi were involved in the acquisition of data. All authors critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

    M. P. Dore, G. M. Pes, G. Marras, S. Soro, C. Rocchi & M. F. Loria

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    G. Bassotti

  3. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    M. P. Dore

  4. Clinica di Gastroenterologia ed Epatologia, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Piazzale Menghini, 1, 06156, San Sisto, Perugia, Italy

    G. Bassotti

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  1. M. P. Dore
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  2. G. M. Pes
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  3. G. Marras
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  4. S. Soro
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  5. C. Rocchi
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  6. M. F. Loria
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  7. G. Bassotti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Bassotti.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Study protocol approved by the University of Sassari Ethical Committee [Prot No 2113/CE, 2014].

Informed consent

Each patient gave written informed consent after being fully informed on the aims of the investigation.

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Dore, M.P., Pes, G.M., Marras, G. et al. Risk factors associated with colonic diverticulosis among patients from a defined geographic area. Tech Coloproctol 20, 177–183 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-015-1401-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-015-1401-7

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