Diverticular disease in Scotland: 2000-2010

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Symptomatic diverticular disease (DD) incidence may be rising in Western societies, especially among younger populations.
• Understanding trends in hospital admissions and management is crucial for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze hospital admission rates and management strategies for diverticular disease (DD) in Scotland.
• To identify trends in DD incidence, patient demographics, and treatment approaches between 2000 and 2010.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Scottish Morbidity Records (SMR01) data for hospital admissions.
• Included all patients with a primary diagnosis of diverticular disease of the large intestine (ICD-10 K57).

Main Results:

• Reported 90,990 admissions for DD (87,314 patients) from 2000-2010, with a 55.2% increase in annual admissions.
• Elective day case admissions significantly increased, linked to higher colonoscopy access; inpatient admissions rose 11%, with a 60% female majority.
• Admissions in younger age groups and those from deprived areas increased, alongside a rise in complicated DD (22.9% to 27.1%), despite a decrease in surgery rates.

Conclusions:

• Diverticular disease (DD) represents a growing burden on health service resources in Western countries.
• The increasing incidence, particularly in younger demographics, necessitates attention for effective healthcare management and resource allocation.