Korean J Gastroenterol.  2013 Aug;62(2):97-103. 10.4166/kjg.2013.62.2.97.

A Prospective Study of Factors Influencing on the Clinical Characteristics of Colonic Diverticulosis

• Kim SY
• Kim YS
• Kim HT
• Kwon SO
• Oh MK
• Cha IH
• Ok KS
• Kwak CH
• Kim JN
• Moon JS

• KMID: 1775746
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2013.62.2.97

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis in Korea is increasing in conjunction with the adoption of western dietary pattern, extension of lifespan, and advances in diagnostic modalities. The clinical characteristics of colonic diverticulosis seem to be gradually becoming similar to those of Western societies. Therefore, factors associated with the clinical characteristics of colonic diverticulosis in Korea were investigated.
METHODS
The data of 200 patients diagnosed with colonic diverticulosis using colonoscopy between May 2010 and April 2012 at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital (Seoul, Korea) were prospectively collected. Clinical parameters acquired through a questionnaire include age, body mass index, waist circumference, exercise, diet, smoking, drinking habits, etc. Correlation between these factors and the clinical features of diverticulosis were analyzed.
RESULTS
Mean age of the patients was 54.9+/-11.9 (range 17-79) years and male to female ratio was 2.2:1. Most diverticula were located on the right side of the colon (83%) and the mean number of diverticulum was 4.07+/-3.9. Factor associated with the location of diverticulum on the left side was age (p=0.001). There was a positive correlation between the waist circumference and the number of diverticulum (partial correlation coefficient r'=0.143, p=0.047). Diverticulitis occurred more frequently in younger patients than in older patients (p=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
Colonic diverticulosis in older patients is found more frequently on the left colon, and the number of diverticulosis is associated with central obesity.

Keyword

Colonoscopy; Diverticulum, colon; Diverticulitis, colonic; Age factors; Obesity

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Alcohol Drinking
Body Mass Index
Colonoscopy
Diverticulosis, Colonic/complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology
Exercise
Female
Hemorrhage/etiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors
Smoking
Waist Circumference
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Age distribution of the patients with colonic diverticulosis. The percentage of patients with colonic diverticulosis increases with advancing age and peaks in the 50–59 year age group.

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  Fig. 2. Number of colonic diverticulum. The most common number of colonic diverticulum ranges from 2 to 5.

Reference

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