The Risk for Diverticulitis in Patients with Diverticulosis

In patients who have diverticulosis, the risk for acute diverticulitis is often estimated at between 10% and 25%. However, this estimate is based on studies conducted before population-based screening colonoscopies were performed. Now, investigators have assessed the risk for diverticulitis among patients with diverticulosis identified on colonoscopy, thus providing a more accurate denominator than in past studies.

Using administrative and clinical data from the U.S. Veterans Affairs system in Los Angeles, investigators retrospectively analyzed the incidence of acute diverticulitis in a cohort of 2222 patients (97% men) with baseline diverticulosis detected by colonoscopy. Patients with a history of diverticulitis prior to their diagnosis wi…