Prevalence and distribution of the colonic diverticulosis. Review of 417 cases from Lower Silesia in Poland

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of colonic diverticulosis increases with age and is the most common pathology of the large bowel in the elderly. Studies of the frequency of colon diverticulosis are performed in necroptic, radiological and endoscopic surveys. AIM: The assessment of the prevalence and distribution of colonic diverticulosis evaluated with barium enemas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 1,912 consecutive barium enemas examinations, performed between 1999-2002 were reviewed. The patients were 1,228 females and 684 males (mean age 55.4 yrs). RESULTS: Diverticula were observed in 21.7 percent (417) of the patients (279 females /mean age 64.1/ and 138 males /mean age 64.5 yrs). The prevalence of diverticulosis among females was 22.7 percent and among males 20.2 percent. The frequency of diverticulosis in patients aged 30-39 years was 5.3 percent, 40-49 years - 8.7 percent, 50-59 years - 19.4 percent, 60-69 years - 29.6 percent, 70-79 years - 40.2 per cent, and in those aged over 80 years it was 57.9 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Diverticular disease of the colon is a significant problem in elderly patients, both females and males. The most common occurrence is in the sigmoid and descending colon.