title: Epidemiological trends and geographic variation in hospital admissions for diverticulitis in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the increasing incidence and geographic variation of acute diverticulitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) we identified a cohort who had been admitted with diverticulitis between 1998 and 2005. We calculated age-, sex-, and region-specific rates of hospitalizations for diverticulitis over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age-adjusted hospitalization rate for diverticulitis increased from 61.8 per 100,000 to 75.5 per 100,000 between 1998 and 2005, and increased similarly in both sexes. Diverticulitis-associated admissions were male-predominant in those younger than age 45 years but were female-predominant thereafter. Admission rates increased the most among those < 45 years, while remaining unchanged for those ≥ 65 years. By 2005, the majority of hospitalized patients were < 65 years. Age-adjusted rates of diverticulitis-associated hospitalizations were lower in the West (50.4/100,000) compared to the Northeast (77.7/100,000), South (73.9/100,000), and Midwest (71.0/100,000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diverticulitis-associated hospitalizations have steeply risen, especially in young adults. These epidemiological trends vary by geographic region and warrant further investigation into potential dietary and environmental etiologies.
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai Hospital Division of Gastroenterology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada. geoff.nguyen@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Geoffrey C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Justina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sam
authors.forename: Nitasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult