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Influence of age on clinical outcome of acute diverticulitis

Ç Ünlü1, B J van de Wall, M F Gerhards

  • 1Department of Surgery, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. cagdas.unlu@gmail.com

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery : Official Journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
|June 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Younger patients with acute colonic diverticulitis do not experience more severe outcomes or higher recurrence rates. This study found age under 50 is not a risk factor for complicated diverticulitis or its return.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The management of acute colonic diverticulitis in younger individuals remains a subject of debate.
  • Key questions involve whether younger age correlates with increased risk of recurrence or complicated disease progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis at age 50 or younger experience a higher rate of recurrence or a more severe clinical outcome compared to older patients.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 1,441 patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis between 2004 and 2012.
  • Patients were stratified into two groups: those 50 years or younger (group 1) and those older than 50 (group 2).
  • Data on emergency surgery, 30-day surgery rates, and recurrence rates after a median follow-up of 22 months were compared.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in the need for emergency surgery within 72 hours (4.3% vs 7.8%) or within 30 days (6.2% vs 10.6%) was observed between younger and older groups.
  • The recurrence rate after a median follow-up of 22 months was comparable, with 25.6% in the younger group and 23.8% in the older group.
  • Cumulative recurrence rates were also similar between the two age cohorts.

Conclusions:

  • Younger age (≤50 years) is not associated with a more severe presentation of acute colonic diverticulitis.
  • The incidence of recurrence following an initial episode of acute diverticulitis is comparable between younger and older patient groups.
Abstract

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