Smoking Is Associated with an Increased Risk for Surgery in Diverticulitis: A Case Control Study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Public Health

Background:

• Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for Crohn's disease surgery.
• The impact of smoking on diverticulitis surgery is not well-established.
• Understanding risk factors for diverticulitis surgery is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if smoking is a risk factor for requiring surgery in patients hospitalized with acute diverticulitis.
• To evaluate the association between smoking status and surgical intervention for diverticulitis.

Main Methods:

• Population-based comparative cohort study.
• Identified 176 adult patients admitted emergently with diverticulitis (2009-2010).
• Medical chart review and logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounders.

Main Results:

• 35.6% of patients underwent partial colectomy; 1.3% died.
• Current smokers had 9.02 times higher odds of surgery compared to non-smokers (aOR 9.02; 95% CI: 2.47-32.97).
• Former smokers had 5.41 times higher odds of surgery (aOR 5.41; 95% CI: 1.54-18.96).

Conclusions:

• Smoking is significantly associated with an increased need for surgical management in acute diverticulitis.
• Both current and former smoking increase the likelihood of surgery for diverticulitis.
• Findings underscore the importance of smoking cessation in managing diverticulitis.