Young patients with diverticular disease: a preliminary quality of life study

Diverticular disease is more apparent in the younger population under 50 years however, its management remains controversial. We report a preliminary quality of life (QoL) assessment which may be useful when determining the optimal management strategy.

A retrospective review of clinical records was carried out from April 1999 to 2004, to identify all patients diagnosed with diverticular disease and its complications, confirmed either by radiology and/or histology evidence. The younger patients were classified according to their management: surgical or conservative. Information on demographic, investigations, treatment, follow-up and recurrent episodes was recorded, and the health-related SF-36 QoL questionnaire was administered.

A total of 47 patients had confirmed diverticular disease. Forty-one patients were managed conservatively and six underwent surgery. Ten (24%) from the conservative group and one (17%) from the surgical group were re-admitted for recurrence of symptoms. About 80% (33 conservative and five surgical) responded to the QoL questionnaire. There was an overall negative impact on all QoL domains (conservative vs surgical): general health (54.1 vs 39.0), physical functioning (72.7 vs 56.0), social functioning (63.3 vs 67.0), physical role limitation (50.0 vs 45.0), emotional role limitation (58.6 vs 26.7), bodily pain (56.9 vs 48.5), vitality (45.0 vs 43.0), mental health (64.5 vs 57.6), PCS (44.5 vs 40.8), MCS (42.6 vs 38.8); and these domain scores did not differ significantly.

Although there was a negative impact on the quality of life, the majority of patients can be treated adequately by conservative management. We highlighted the need to consider the QoL aspect when determining the optimal management of the disease in the younger population.