title: Long-term outcome in 445 patients after diagnosis of diverticular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the long-term outcome after primary diagnosis of diverticular disease (DD) with respect to demographics, lifestyle, severity of disease and primary treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study of all 445 consecutive patients admitted to the department during 1989-1995 with the diagnosis DD with prospective follow up. Follow up was performed on all patients during May 2002 by searching the Danish Patient Register and National Register. Logistic regression analyses were applied for defining risk factors for readmission or death. For defined risk factors Kaplan-Meier survival statistics was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The male/female ratio was 30/70. Median age was 75 years (men being younger than women, P < 0.01). About 73% received conservative treatment primarily. At follow up 35.3% had suffered clinical recurrence of DD, of these 15.9% were subsequently operated. However, 3.6% of the patients died of causes related to diverticulitis. Possible high-risk groups for recurrence were males and their age above 70 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age and sex are possible predictors for recurrence of DD. Elective surgery seems not to be justified after just one attack of DD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery K, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wille-Jørgensen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors