title: Quality of life in uncomplicated symptomatic diverticular disease: is it another good reason for treatment?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life (QoL) is becoming a major issue in the evaluation of any therapeutic intervention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the QoL in patients with uncomplicated symptomatic diverticular disease (DD) and to elucidate the influence of two different treatments either on symptoms or QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  58 outpatients affected by uncomplicated symptomatic DD, admitted in our Gastroenterological Unit from October 2003 to March 2004, were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to two different treatments consisting of rifaximin or mesalazine for 10 days every month for a period of 6 months. QoL was evaluated by means of an SF-36 questionnaire and clinical evaluation was registered by means of a global symptomatic score (GSS) at baseline and after 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, lower values in all SF-36 domains were confirmed in patients with DD. Both rifaximin and mesalazine groups showed a significant reduction of their mean GSS (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) and improvement of SF-36 mean scores after therapy, even though treatment with mesalazine showed better results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DD has a negative impact on QoL. Cyclic treatment with poorly absorbable antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs relieves symptoms and improves QoL.
authors.affiliation: University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comparato
authors.forename: Libera
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fanigliulo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aragona
authors.forename: Giulia M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cavestro
authors.forename: Lucas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leandro
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilotto
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nervi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soliani
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sianesi
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzé
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Mario
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000078262:Rifaximin; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires