The changing trend of diverticular disease in a developing nation

Left-sided diverticular disease (LDD) is associated with reduced dietary intake, whereas right-sided diverticular disease (RDD) is more common amongst Oriental populations. We aimed to determine whether the prevalence, site and distribution of diverticular disease in our Oriental population has changed over the past two decades.

A total of 1663 barium enema studies performed between January 2001 and August 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. The site of disease was correlated with age, gender and ethnicity of the patient.

Forty-five per cent of patients in the study population had diverticular disease. Older patients were more likely to have LDD, whereas the Chinese ethnic group was more likely to have RDD. Right-sided diverticular disease peaks at in the sixth decade, while for LDD this occurred in the seventh and eighth decades. Right-sided diverticular disease was more common in all age groups overall. When compared with two barium enema studies carried out in Singapore two decades earlier, there was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of RDD and LDD.

There is a positive association of RDD and LDD with Chinese race and increasing age. There is an increasing incidence of both LDD and RDD compared with two decades previously.