title: Acute diverticulitis in the young: the same disease in a different patient.
abstract: Background. Natural history and risk factors for diverticulitis in young patients are still debatable. This study aimed to assess whether difference exists in patients aged 50 and younger when compared to older patients and to identify risk factors for acute diverticulitis in the young. Patients and Methods. From January 2006 to December 2011, 80 patients were admitted to our department for acute diverticulitis. We carried out a cross-sectional study in 23 patients (28.7%) aged 50 and younger and 57 older patients (71.3%). Results. Acute diverticulitis in the young was not more aggressive than in the older patient. Diverticulitis at patient's admission was similar with respect to Hinchey's stage and prior history of diverticulitis. No significant difference was found for both medical and surgical treatment. The rate of recurrent diverticulitis in nonoperated patients was similar. Male gender, body mass index ≥25, and assumption of alcohol were independent risk factors for the occurrence of an acute diverticulitis in the young. Conclusions. The same disease seems to be affecting young patients such as overweight or obese male individual. Current policies to prevent diverticular disease and its related complications must include obesity control together with high-fiber diet and regular exercise.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Chirurgica, Department of Surgery, University of Cagliari, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Presidio Policlinico di Monserrato, Blocco G, SS 554 km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy.
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisanu
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Reccia
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podda
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uccheddu
references.citation: J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1997 Apr;42(2):102-4
references.pmid: 9114680
references.citation: Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 May;52(5):1008-16
references.pmid: 19502872
references.citation: World J Gastroenterol. 2011 Mar 28;17(12):1600-5
references.pmid: 21472127
references.citation: Ann Epidemiol. 1995 May;5(3):221-8
references.pmid: 7606311
references.citation: Dis Colon Rectum. 2000 Mar;43(3):290-7
references.pmid: 10733108
references.citation: Dis Colon Rectum. 2008 Apr;51(4):450-5
references.pmid: 18157570
references.citation: Adv Surg. 1978;12:85-109
references.pmid: 735943
references.citation: Colorectal Dis. 2006 Jan;8(1):37-40
references.pmid: 16519636
references.citation: Dis Colon Rectum. 2006 Jul;49(7):939-44
references.pmid: 16741596
references.citation: Dis Colon Rectum. 2007 Apr;50(4):472-7
references.pmid: 17164966
references.citation: Br Med J. 1971 May 22;2(5759):450-4
references.pmid: 4930390
references.citation: Colorectal Dis. 2012 Jul;14(7):e407-12
references.pmid: 22321968
references.citation: Am J Gastroenterol. 2012 Feb;107(2):296-302
references.pmid: 22008890
references.citation: Br J Surg. 2002 Sep;89(9):1137-41
references.pmid: 12190679
references.citation: AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006 Sep;187(3):689-94
references.pmid: 16928931
references.citation: Ann Ital Chir. 2012 Jul-Aug;83(4):319-24
references.pmid: 22610079
references.citation: Am J Gastroenterol. 2010 Mar;105(3):652-61
references.pmid: 19861955
references.citation: Hepatogastroenterology. 2009 Sep-Oct;56(94-95):1382-7
references.pmid: 19950796
references.citation: J Am Coll Surg. 1994 Aug;179(2):156-60
references.pmid: 8044384
references.citation: Gastroenterology. 2011 May;140(5):1427-33
references.pmid: 21320500
references.citation: Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003 May 1;17(9):1189-95
references.pmid: 12752356
references.citation: World J Gastroenterol. 2006 May 14;12(18):2932-5
references.pmid: 16718822
references.citation: Colorectal Dis. 2011 Oct;13(10):1158-61
references.pmid: 20646011
references.citation: Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Oct;60(10):1174-9
references.pmid: 16639416
references.citation: Med J Aust. 2003 May 5;178(9):427-32
references.pmid: 12720507
references.citation: Am Surg. 2002 Dec;68(12):1044-7
references.pmid: 12516805
references.citation: J Gastrointest Surg. 2011 Apr;15(4):667-74
references.pmid: 21318443
references.citation: Ann Surg. 2009 Feb;249(2):210-7
references.pmid: 19212172
references.citation: Anthropol Anz. 2006 Sep;64(3):333-44
references.pmid: 17128936
references.citation: Can Fam Physician. 2002 Oct;48:1632-7
references.pmid: 12449547
references.citation: Dis Colon Rectum. 2003 Aug;46(8):1110-4
references.pmid: 12907908
references.citation: Dis Colon Rectum. 2004 Jul;47(7):1187-90; discussion 1190-1
references.pmid: 15148645
references.citation: Ann Epidemiol. 2010 Apr;20(4):258-64
references.pmid: 20149969
references.citation: Am J Surg. 1997 Dec;174(6):733-5; discussion 735-6
references.pmid: 9409607
references.citation: Dis Colon Rectum. 2010 Mar;53(3):333-8
references.pmid: 20173482
references.citation: J Gastrointest Surg. 2008 Aug;12(8):1309-11
references.pmid: 18278535
references.citation: Am J Surg. 1992 Nov;164(5):443-6; discussion 446-8
references.pmid: 1443367
references.citation: Gastroenterology. 2009 Jan;136(1):115-122.e1
references.pmid: 18996378