Age, alcohol, sex, and metabolic factors as risk factors for colonic diverticulosis

Colonic Diverticulosis at Colonoscopy in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pooled Estimates

INTRODUCTION

There is need to ascertain any epidemiologic shift of diverticulosis among Africans with traditionally high fiber diet consumption patterns and rare diverticulosis prevalence.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, African Journal Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar. Eligibility criteria included full-text observational and experimental human colonoscopy studies on asymptomatic and symptomatic African population from 1985 to 2022. Case reports, conference abstracts, dissertations, systematic reviews, and studies lacking colonoscopy findings were excluded. NIH quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies was used to assess risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effect model. Heterogeneity was assessed using inconsistency (I2) statistics.

RESULTS

Thirty studies were included. Pooled prevalence rate of colonic diverticulosis in the last decade (2012-2022) has increased to 9.7% (95% CI 6.5-13.4; I2 = 97.3%) from 3.5% (95% CI 1.4-6.4; I2 = 62.7%). The highest regional prevalence rate was in West African studies at 11.3% (95% CI 7.6-14.9; I2 = 96.2%). Proportion of individuals with diverticulosis ≥50 years and male sex were 86.9% (95% CI 80.5-92.1) and 65.2% (95% CI 55.0-74.8), respectively. The left colon had the highest diverticulosis frequency (37% [148/400]). Bleeding/inflammation complications were sparingly detected (OR 0.2 [95% CI 0.03-0.75; p < 0.0001]).

CONCLUSION

An increasing utilization of colonoscopy revealed approximately a threefold increase in the prevalence rate of colonic diverticulosis in Africa. This pathology was most common in males aged >50. Left colon was predominantly affected. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the effect of westernization of diet.

Association of Metabolic Syndrome Components and Colonic Diverticulosis in the Very Elderly: A Tertiary Health Network Study

Introduction There is scarce data about the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) or its components with the development of colonic diverticulosis (CD) in the elderly. We aim to determine the association of MetS and its components with CD in the elderly aged ≥75 years. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review at St. Luke's University Health Network to identify patients who underwent a colonoscopy between 2011 and 2020. We collected data on patient demographics, comorbidities, and colonoscopy findings. Statistical analyses were conducted to compute means and frequencies of patient characteristics and rates of CD, as well as to test for associations between potential risk factors and the presence of CD.  Results A total of 1239 patients were included with a median age of 80 years, 57.6% females, 89.5% Caucasians, 72.9% with CD, and 66.7% having a left-sided disease. On bivariate analysis, the older age group (p=0.02), Caucasian ethnicity (p=0.01), and hypertension (p=0.04) were found to be significant risk factors for developing CD. Multivariate regression analysis showed older age group and hypertension (OR=1.47, 95% CI: 1.66-2.02, p=0.02) were major risk factors. A significant proportion of patients with left-sided disease had Caucasian ethnicity (p<0.001), while female gender, obesity, and iron deficiency anemia were also seen more frequently, although without statistical significance.  Conclusion In the elderly (>75 years old), our study found hypertension to be associated with an increased risk of CD, while impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was protective. Most patients exhibited isolated left-sided diverticulosis, with pan-diverticulosis associated with higher proportions of adverse health indicators, including American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥3, IFG, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. Further research with larger sample sizes in similar age groups is needed to expand upon these findings.

Concomitant diverticulosis among patients undergoing liver transplantation. Does it influence the length of hospitalization after the procedure?

Aim of the study

We tried to assess the influence of concomitant diverticulosis and other factors, e.g., Child-Pugh (C-P) and MELD scores, viral etiology, and presence of alcoholic disease, on short-term results of liver transplantation (LT) with an emphasis on duration of patient's hospitalization.

Material and methods

This prospective study was performed on 206 cirrhotic patients who were selected for LT. In order to assess the presence of diverticculosis we performed colonoscopy.

Results

The duration of hospitalization after LT did not differ significantly between patients with and without diverticulosis (27.5 [21.0-33.5] vs. 24.0 [18.0-32.0] days, p = 0.28). Patients with C-P class C were hospitalized longer in comparison to the class B patients. It is reflected in the positive correlation between C-P score and days of hospitalization (r = 0.22, p = 0.002). Patients with diverticulosis were significantly older (59.6 [51.1-63.3] vs. 52.9 [43.8-59.2] years, p = 0.03). Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was associated with a greater risk of diverticulosis (OR = 3.89, 95% CI [1.13-15.87], p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Presence of diverticulosis among subjects undergoing LT did not influence the duration of hospitalization after the procedure. Significantly longer hospitalization was observed in patients with the most advanced liver disease according to C-P score. To determine the exact impact of diverticulosis on short-term results of LT additional studies are required.

Colonic diverticular bleeding: An update on pathogenesis and management

Colonic diverticular bleeding is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, which can be life-threatening and frequently recurrent. In recent years, the prevalence of diverticulosis has increased in developed countries, with a documented incidence of 50% in patients older than 60 years. Based on the evidence, the use of anticoagulants and/or antiplatelets in the elderly population has resulted in an increased incidence of acute diverticular bleeding. According to the literature, about 50% of patients with diverticular bleeding require a blood transfusion, and 18% - 53% need emergency surgery. Although endoscopic identification of the culprit diverticula and appropriate intervention is a challenge, the newer treatment modality, over-the-scope clip method (OTSC) has been demonstrated to be an effective endoscopic hemostatic method in severe diverticular bleeding, especially in cases of rebleeding after first-line conventional endoscopic procedures. In this review, we summarize the pathophysiology of colonic diverticulosis and diverticular bleeding, recent evidence in its management, and existing theories on various preventive strategies to control diverticular bleeding. We also discuss the efficacy and treatment outcome of the OTSC technique in controlling diverticular bleeding.

Diverticulosis and cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

There is a hypothesis of an association between diverticulosis and metabolic syndrome (MS) or its components, but data on this topic are inconsistent, and a systematic review has not been performed. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the possible association between cardiometabolic risk factors and diverticulosis.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted via PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science in December 2022 to collect the necessary data. Studies that examined the association between MS or individual metabolic factors and asymptomatic diverticulosis were included in the review.

RESULTS

Of the potentially relevant articles identified via PubMed (477), Cochrane Library (224), and Web of Science (296), 29 articles met the inclusion criteria and were used for this work. These studies were assessed for study quality using GRADE. Overall, 6 studies were rated as "very low," 19 studies as "low," and 4 studies as "moderate." The data suggest an association between arterial hypertension, obesity, and fatty liver disease in younger patients and diverticulosis. Patient age appears to play an important role in diverticular formation. Data on diabetes mellitus is inconclusive and may require further investigation depending on the location of the diverticula.

CONCLUSION

Based on the synthesized data, there is an association between arterial hypertension, obesity, and fatty liver disease in younger patients. The formation of diverticula seems to be influenced by age and genetic factors. The study suggests a connection with cardiometabolic risk factors. To gain a better understanding of the role of metabolic risk factors in asymptomatic diverticulosis, targeted studies are necessary based on these findings.

Increased mucosal eosinophils in colonic diverticulosis and diverticular disease

AIMS

Eosinophils contribute to tissue homeostasis, damage, and repair. The mucosa of colonic diverticula has not been evaluated for eosinophils by quantitative histology. We aimed to investigate whether mucosal eosinophils and other immune cells are increased in colonic diverticula.

METHODS

Hematoxylin and eosin stained sections from colonic surgical resections (n = 82) containing diverticula were examined. Eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes, in five high power fields in the lamina propria were counted at the base, neck, and ostia of the diverticulum and counts compared to non-diverticula mucosa. The cohort was further subgrouped by elective and emergency surgical indications.

RESULTS

Following an initial review of 10 surgical resections from patients with diverticulosis, a total of 82 patients with colonic resections containing diverticula from the descending colon were evaluated (median age 71.5, 42 M/40F). Eosinophil counts for the entire cohort were increased in the base and neck (median 99 and 42, both P = <0.001) compared with the control location (median 16). Eosinophil counts remained significantly increased in the diverticula base (both P = <0.001) and neck (P = 0.01 and <0.001, respectively) in both elective and emergency cases. Lymphocytes were also significantly increased at the diverticula base compared to controls in both elective and emergency subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Eosinophils are significantly and most strikingly increased within the diverticulum in resected colonic diverticula. While these observations are novel, the role of eosinophil and chronic inflammation is as yet unclear in the pathophysiology of colonic diverticulosis and diverticular disease.