Demographics and trends in the acute presentation of diverticular disease: a national study.
BACKGROUND
Diverticular disease (DD) is a major health problem in the Western world. The aim of this study was to describe demographics and trends in acute DD admissions in New Zealand.


METHODS
Information pertaining to acute hospital admissions between January 2000 and June 2012 for a primary diagnosis of large bowel DD was retrieved from a national database.


RESULTS
There were 25,167 admissions for acute DD. Mean age of presentation decreased from 65.9 years in 2000 to 64.1 years in 2012 (P < 0.001). Mean age was lower in men than women (61.4 versus 67.4 years, P < 0.001). Although men comprised 45.2% of the cohort they were over-represented in the 18-44 years stratum (68.6 versus 31.4%; P < 0.001). Europeans accounted for 84.8% of admissions and presented at an older age (65.8 years) than Māori (56.2 years), Pacific Islanders (58.4 years) or Asians (58.9 years) (P < 0.001). Acute DD admissions were higher in more deprived populations (P < 0.001). Mean length of hospital stay (LOS) reduced from 5.8 days in 2000 to 4.1 days in 2012 (P < 0.001). LOS increased with age (P < 0.001) and deprivation (P = 0.013), but did not differ between ethnicities (P = 0.088). Computed tomography scanning of acute admissions doubled from 2000 to 2012 (29.7-59.2%; P < 0.001) with a halving in the use of acute in-patient colonoscopy (26.1-13.2%; P < 0.001) and emergent surgery (14.8-7.2%; P < 0.001). Percutaneous drain use increased from 0.6% in 2000 to 1.1% in 2012 (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Acute DD is a source of considerable morbidity in New Zealand and there have been significant changes in its admission demographics and trends over the last decade.
Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Ryash
R
Vather
Freemasons' Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Joanna B
JB
Broad
Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Rebekah
R
Jaung
Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Jason
J
Robertson
Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Ian P
IP
Bissett
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003710:Demography / Q000639:trends; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
diverticular disease; trends