Chronic constipation is negatively associated with colonic diverticula.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Colorectal Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Constipation is widely believed to be a primary risk factor for diverticulosis.
• The precise mechanisms linking constipation and diverticulosis remain incompletely understood.
• This study investigates the relationship between constipation severity and diverticula characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between constipation severity and the presence, localization, and number of colonic diverticula.
• To clarify the role of constipation as a risk factor for diverticulosis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 1014 patients undergoing colonoscopy between March and December 2019.
• Chronic constipation defined by Rome IV criteria or requiring laxative therapy for over 6 months.
• Constipation severity assessed using the Constipation Scoring System (CSS).

Main Results:

• Multivariate analysis indicated a negative association between chronic constipation and diverticulosis (OR=0.74).
• Right-sided diverticula showed a significant negative association with constipation (OR=0.94).
• Increased constipation severity (higher CSS score) correlated with a lower number of diverticula and reduced prevalence of ≥3 diverticula.

Conclusions:

• Chronic constipation is negatively associated with colonic diverticulosis.
• This inverse relationship is more pronounced with increasing constipation severity.
• The association is significant for right-sided diverticula and cases with multiple diverticula (≥3).