The prevalence of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease could be lower than expected: a single-center colonoscopy-based cohort study

Aim: The real prevalence of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SUDD, post-diverticulitis SUDD (PD-SUDD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms in a real-life population.

Methods: A cohort of patients, submitted to colonoscopy from 1st January 2012 to 30th April 2018 was revised.

Results: A cohort of 5451 patients with diverticulosis was identified during the study period. Abdominal pain was recorded in 1141 patients (20.93%), diarrhea in 288 (5.28%) and constipation in 536 (9.83%) patients. SUDD was recorded in 371 patients (6.81% of the patients having diverticulosis and 32.51% of the patients experiencing abdominal pain), PD-SUDD was recorded in 103 patients (1.89% of the patients having diverticulosis and 9.03% of the patients experiencing abdominal pain) and IBS-like was recorded in 348 patients (6.38% of the patients having diverticulosis and 30.5% of the patients experiencing abdominal pain). Three hundred and nineteen patients were not part of any of the previous categories (5.85% of the patients having diverticulosis and 27.96% of the patients experiencing abdominal pain). SUDD and PD-SUDD were more frequent in older ages (>60 years), while IBS-like symptoms were more frequent in younger. Nonspecific abdominal pain was equally distributed in through the ages.

Conclusion: The prevalence of SUDD seems to be lower than expected, and most of patients with diverticulosis and abdominal symptoms may suffer from IBS-like or other causes.