Colonic diverticular disease in a multiracial Asian patient population has an ethnic predilection.
BACKGROUND
Traditionally, diverticular disease of the colon has been attributed to ageing, low dietary fibre and a high intraluminal pressure. Recently, genetic and racial factors have also been implicated.


METHODS
Four-hundred and ten consecutive multiracial Asian patients undergoing colonoscopy for a variety of bowel symptoms in a private endoscopy unit were studied for differing frequencies (if any) in colonic diverticular disease and concomitant abnormalities.


RESULTS
Forty-one patients (10%) had diverticular disease. Diverticula were present in 22/147 Chinese (15%), 14/153 Indians (9%) and 5/110 Malays (4.5%). The mean age of patients with diverticular disease was 55 years as compared with 51.3 years in those without (P = 0.12) and there was no gender difference. Thirty-six patients (88%) had diverticula in the right colon only, four patients (10%) exclusively in the left hemicolon, and one patient (2%) had bilateral involvement. Using regression analysis, Chinese ethnicity [odds ratio (OR)=2.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-4.09; P = 0.027), constipation (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.23-5.42; P = 0.007) and colorectal adenomas (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.08-6.46; P = 0.033) were independently associated with diverticular disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Colonic diverticular disease in a multiracial Asian patient population has an ethnic predilection and is predominantly right-sided.
Rajendra
Shanmugarajah
S
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Royal College of Medicine, Perak, Malaysia. shanraj@pd.jaring.my
Ho
Jacqueline J
JJ
D000236:Adenoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007223:Infant; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged