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Diverticular Disease

Epidemiology and Pharmacological Treatment

  • Epidemiology
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Summary

Diverticular disease is worldwide in distribution, but the incidence is highest in industrialised countries. It is associated with aging and low intake of dietary fibre.

There is a broad range of clinical manifestations — from asymptomatic diverticula to life-threatening complications. Elderly patients often present with complicated diverticular disease, and may lack typical symptoms and signs.

Treatment includes fibre supplementation, drugs or antibiotics for complications, and surgery for refractory disease. Proper diagnosis and treatment requires knowledge of the full range of presentations and careful selection and timing of medical versus surgical intervention.

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  1. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Lawrence J. Cheskin & Robert D. Lamport

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  1. Lawrence J. Cheskin
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Cheskin, L.J., Lamport, R.D. Diverticular Disease. Drugs & Aging 6, 55–63 (1995). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-199506010-00005

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