J Korean Med Sci.  2011 Oct;26(10):1339-1343. 10.3346/jkms.2011.26.10.1339.

Correlation between Complicated Diverticulitis and Visceral Fat

• Jeong JH
• Lee HL
• Kim JO
• Tae HJ
• Jung SH
• Lee KN
• Jun DW
• Lee OY
• Yoon BC
• Choi HS
• Hahm JS
• Song SY

• KMID: 1785993
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.10.1339

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of complications related to diverticulitis and visceral obesity. The study was based on a retrospective case note review conducted at the Hanyang University Hospital. Patients were diagnosed with diverticulitis based on clinical symptoms and abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings and divided into two groups: those admitted with complicated diverticulitis and those with a simple diverticulitis episode. We compared the body mass index (BMI) and degree of visceral obesity, measured by abdominal CT. The study included 140 patients, 87 (62.1%) were simple diverticulitis and 53 (37.9%) were complicated diverticulitis. In the complicated diverticulitis group, 9 (6.4%) cases were recurrent, 29 (20.7%) were perforation or abscess patients, and 28 (20%) were patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Of the SIRS patients, 13 were involved in other complication groups. When comparing in the two groups, the complicated diverticulitis group had a significantly higher visceral fat area (128.57 cm2 vs 102.80 cm2, P = 0.032) and a higher ratio of visceral fat area/subcutaneous fat area (0.997 vs 0.799, P = 0.014). Visceral obesity is significantly associated with complications of diverticulitis.

Keyword

Diverticulitis; Complications; Obesity; Visceral Obesity

MeSH Terms

Adipose Tissue
Adult
Aged
Body Composition
Body Mass Index
Diverticulitis/*complications/pathology
Female
Humans
*Intra-Abdominal Fat
Lipids/*blood
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity, Abdominal/*complications
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Measurement of total and visceral fat area of Haunsfield number -190~-30 at the level of L3-4 vertebra. Subcutaneous fat area is calculated by difference between total fat area and visceral fat area. (A) Measurement of total fat area; (B) Measurement of visceral fat area.

• 

  Fig. 2 Abdominal CT scan of complicated diverticulitis. The arrow shows a sigmoid colon wall infiltration with surrounding air bubbles.

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