BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although a few published studies have reported on the relationship between diverticulosis and neoplasia in the west, it is not yet examined in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between diverticulosis and colonic neoplasia. METHODS: We retrospectely analysed the medical records of 3,007 patients (M:F=1.3:1) who underwent colonoscopic examinations from year 2002 to year 2004. Patients who had a history of previous polypectomy, colon resection, or inflammatory bowel diseases were excluded. The size, extent (none, few, or many), and location of diverticuli and polyps were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 2,377 patients, included 57% were male and the mean age was 50.8 year-old. Nine percent of the patient had diverticulosis, 29% had more than one neoplasm, and 6% had advanced neoplasia. Patients with diverticular diseases had higher risks of any neoplasia than those without diverticulum (p=0.03, 37.7% vs. 28.2%). There was no correlation between diverticular diseases and advanced neoplasia. Patients with proximal diverticular diseases had higher risk of any proximal neoplasia than other patients (p<0.01 24.6% vs. 14.3%). Moreover, they had higher risk of proximal advanced neoplasia than others (p=0.01, 4.5% vs. 2%). In addition, comparison of multiple diverticular disease with few or no diverticuli revealed no difference in the risk of any neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the patients with diverticular diseases have more neoplasms than controls without diverticula.
Adult ; Aged ; Colonic Neoplasms/*complications/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Diverticulosis, Colonic/*complications/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Diverticulum, Colon/epidemiology/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

This study was done to evaluate prospectively the clinical significance of colonic diverticulosis. In the 1,030 consecutive outpatients undergoing colonoscopy, the information on the demographics, the patterns of bowel symptoms, and the prevalence of colon polyp were analyzed according to the presence of colonic diverticulosis. The mean age of 1,030 patients were 52.2 yr and 59.3% were male. The prevalence of diverticulosis was 19.7% (203/1,030). Of 203 diverticulosis patients 85.2% were in proximal group, 5.4% in distal group and 9.4% in both group. Six (3.0%) patients were found to have diverticulitis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that an old age, diabetes and the presence of polyp were significant factors associated with proximal or both diverticulosis. A significant difference was demonstrated between the patients of distal diverticular group and the controls for the symptom frequency scores within the previous 4 weeks. The items, which showed difference, were hard stool, urgency, flatus, chest discomfort and frequent urination. In conclusion, old age, diabetes and the presence of colon polyp were associated with proximal diverticulosis. The temporal symptoms were more frequent in distal diverticulosis than in proximal diverticulosis in the study subjects.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colonic Diseases/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Colonic Polyps/complications/*diagnosis ; Colonoscopy ; Diabetes Complications/complications/diagnosis ; Diverticulitis/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Diverticulosis, Colonic/complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Female ; Flatulence/complications ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

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.
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