Pattern of diverticular disease among Africans.
Diverticular disease of the colon was found to be a rare but emerging clinical problem among Urban Africans where 26 patients were recorded in this 5 year retrospective study, giving a hospital prevalence of 5 per 100,000 admissions. The pattern was different from that reported in Western communities in that, while diverticula were left sided in 77% of cases, 62% were right sided and 73% presented with haemorrhage. This confirms a reported experience among African Americans. We would like to postulate that it might be the pattern during a transition from traditional to Western diet.
Madiba
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Department of Surgery, University of Natal Medical School, Durban.
Mokoena
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D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000453:epidemiology; D004241:Diverticulum, Colon / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data