The Prevalence and Clinical Features of Colonic Diverticulosis Diagnosed with Colonscopy

Choi, Chang Soo; Cho, Eun Young; Kweon, Ji Hye; Lim, Pyoung Suk; No, Hye Jung; Kim, Ki Hoon; Lee, Jeong Geun; Seo, Geom Seog; Kim, Tae Hyeon; Choi, Suck Chei

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, due to the adoption of a Western lifestyle, the incidence of colonic diverticulosis is increasing in the Korean population. The purpose of this study is to review the prevalence and clinical characteristics of colonic diverticulosis as diagnosed by a colonoscopic examination.
METHODS
We retrospectely analyzed the medical records of 3,352 patients that had undergone a colonoscopy from 1 January 2002 to 31 July 31 2005. We recorded the extent (1, 2~5, 6>) and the location of a diverticulum. We also reviewed the medical records of the patients that had symptoms and other clinical features.
RESULTS
A total of 2,831 patients were selected. The overall prevalence of colonic diverticulosis was 10.1%; the mean patient age was 53+/-11 years and the ratio of males to females was 2.3:1. A diverticulum occurred more frequently in the right side colon (79.0%) than the left side colon (13.9%). The most common symptom was abdominal pain (63.5%). Complications were diverticulitis (2.0%) and bleeding (0.3%). The prevalence of a colon polyp was 39.1% and the prevalence of a fatty liver was 26.4% in the diverticular patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis is increasing in the Korean population and a diverticulum occurred more frequently in the right side colon.