Diverticular disease of the colon: ethnic differences in frequency

Colonic diverticular disease is more common in Western populations than in developing countries.

To determine whether the frequency of colonic diverticular disease is different in British patients of Indian-subcontinent Asian origin compared with other ethnic groups.

All colonoscopies performed over a 3-year period in a London hospital were studied. Patients of Indian-subcontinent Asian origin were identified by name.

Five of 134 Indian-subcontinent Asian males (4%) had colonic diverticular disease, compared with 278 of 1268 patients of other ethnic groups (22%; P < 0.001). Five of 91 Indian-subcontinent Asian females (6%) had colonic diverticular disease, compared with 333 of 1486 patients of other ethnic groups (23%; P < 0.001). Although patients of Indian-subcontinent Asian origin (54.8 +/- 15.8 years) were younger than those of other ethnic groups (60.3 +/- 17.8 years; P < 0.0001), the ethnic difference in the frequency of diverticular disease persisted even when age was taken into account.

There is a lower frequency of colonic diverticular disease in Indian-subcontinent Asians presenting for colonoscopy, compared with other ethnic groups. This cannot be explained by sex or age differences. Our findings require confirmation, but may provide opportunities for research into the aetiology of colonic diverticular disease.