Ethnic Disparities in Colonic Diverticulosis Between Arab and Jewish Patients: A Large Nationwide Cohort Study

Diverticulosis is a prevalent gastrointestinal condition of the colon, influenced by age, dietary, lifestyle, and hereditary factors. This study aimed to explore population-specific variations and disparities between two ethnic groups (Arabs and Jews) served by the same healthcare system. Clinical data of diverticulosis patients was extracted using the MDClone platform of Clalit Health Maintenance Organization. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, hospital admissions and complications were analyzed. A total of 12,209 Arab and 136,885 Jewish patients (n = 149,094) were included in our analysis. Arab patients were diagnosed at a significantly younger age (59.4 ± 14.5 vs. 67.6 ± 13 years; p < 0.001). They also had a higher prevalence of smoking (30.3% vs. 26.2%; p < 0.001), diabetes (36.6% vs. 26.8%; p < 0.001), and obesity (47.2% vs. 28.9%; p < 0.001), but lower depression (7.7% vs. 12.9%; p < 0.001). In terms of diverticulosis-related complications, Arabs showed increased rates of diverticulitis (16.5% vs. 14.6%; p < 0.001) and total complications (18.9% vs. 17.4%; p < 0.001). Our findings highlight significant variations and disparities in disease burden, associated risks, and risk factor profiles between Arab and Jewish populations in Israel. These findings emphasize the need for targeted prevention and early intervention strategies for specific ethnic groups.