Diverticulitis
While the terms diverticulosis, diverticulitis, and diverticular disease are often used interchangeably, diverticulosis refers to the presence of diverticula in the colon, diverticulitis refers to the presence of peridiverticular inflammation and infection, and diverticular disease refers to the full spectrum of symptoms caused by the presence of diverticula including cramping, bloating, pain, and fever.
Colonic diverticulosis occurs more frequently in Western countries and industrialized societies and its prevalence increases dramatically with age. The incidence of diverticulosis increases with age, from less than 5% before age 40 years to greater than 65% by age 85 years. As it is less common in underdeveloped countries, diverticulitis is also less common in these areas. The reason is unclear but presumably secondary to lifestyle and dietary factors.
Approximately 10-25% of patients with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis; 15-25% of those with diverticulitis develop complications leading to surgery. These complications include abscess formation, intestinal rupture, peritonitis, and fistula formation.
Asymptomatic diverticulosis is a common condition. Of patients with diverticulosis, 80-85% remain asymptomatic.
Studies of Western population demonstrate a tendency for diverticulosis to occur on the left side, primarily the sigmoid colon in 55-95% of cases. Right-sided disease is more common in Asian population, accounting for as many as 75% of cases of diverticulitis in that group.
Colonic diverticulosis occurs more frequently in Western countries and industrialized societies and its prevalence increases dramatically with age. The incidence of diverticulosis increases with age, from less than 5% before age 40 years to greater than 65% by age 85 years. As it is less common in underdeveloped countries, diverticulitis is also less common in these areas. The reason is unclear but presumably secondary to lifestyle and dietary factors.
Approximately 10-25% of patients with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis; 15-25% of those with diverticulitis develop complications leading to surgery. These complications include abscess formation, intestinal rupture, peritonitis, and fistula formation.
Asymptomatic diverticulosis is a common condition. Of patients with diverticulosis, 80-85% remain asymptomatic.
Studies of Western population demonstrate a tendency for diverticulosis to occur on the left side, primarily the sigmoid colon in 55-95% of cases. Right-sided disease is more common in Asian population, accounting for as many as 75% of cases of diverticulitis in that group.