The Prevalence of Colonic Diverticular Disease in Patients with Bowel Symptoms

Abstract

Background and Aim: Colonic diverticular disease is a common disorder worldwide, but its prevalence varies among different countries and regions. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of colonic diverticular disease in adult patients with bowel symptoms in mid-Taiwan. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 3885 consecutive patients who received barium enema examinations for a variety of bowel symptoms at the China Medical University Hospital in mid-Taiwan from January 2001 to December 2005. Results: Our study revealed that the prevalence of colonic diverticular disease in an adult population with bowel symptoms in mid-Taiwan was 11.9%. This prevalence was lower than that in Western countries and some developed Asian countries. Moreover, the peak prevalence occurred in the age group of 81-90 years. In contrast to the Caucasian population, right colonic involvement was predominant 63.8%, but left hemicoloic, and bilateral distributions were 20.3%, and 15.9%, respectively. The most common site of involvement was the ascending colon, which occurred in 56.8% of the patients. The prevalence increased with age for both right and left diverticulosis, with right diverticulosis predominating among the younger age groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of colonic diverticular disease in patients with bowel symptoms in mid-Taiwan is lower than that of the other developed Asian countries, but this disease did show a predominance of right-sided involvement similar to other Asian populations.