[Do patients with diverticula have a higher risk of developing polyps and colorectal cancer? Study in a spanish...

Diverticulosis, colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer are frequently encountered in colonoscopies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between these three conditions.

A cross-sectional study between January 2019 and December 2023 was done at Jarrio Hospital (Asturias, Spain). We included all patients with a first complete colonoscopy. Exclusion criteria were: previous colonoscopy or colorectal resection; age under sixteen years old; incomplete colonoscopy or insufficient bowel preparation. Information about age, sex, BMI, location and histology of polyps and location of diverticula and cancer was recorded. Logistic regression was carried out to identify the association between diverticulosis with polyps and neoplasms, as well as with other variables.

A total of 2,328 patients were recruited. Prevalence of diverticular disease, polyps and colorectal cancer was 36.5%, 26.7% and 9.4%. Patients with polyps, diverticulosis and cancer were older and had higher BMI. Polyps and cancer were more common in men but no differences in prevalence of diverticular disease were found between men and women. Patients with diverticula had a higher risk of having polyps (Odds Ratio=1.3) but did not have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Diverticula, polyps and cancer were found more frequently in distal colon.

A positive association between the presence of diverticula and the appearance of polyps in the colon is found in this study. However, no significant statistical association is found between the presence of diverticula and colorectal cancer.