title: Temporal Trends in the Incidence and Natural History of Diverticulitis: A Population-Based Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data on the incidence and natural history of diverticulitis are largely hospital-based and exclude the majority of diverticulitis patients, who are treated in an outpatient setting for uncomplicated diverticulitis. We assessed temporal trends in the epidemiology of diverticulitis in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through the Rochester Epidemiology Project we reviewed the records of all individuals with a diagnosis of diverticulitis from 1980 to 2007 in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 1980-1989, the incidence of diverticulitis was 115/100,000 person-years, which increased to 188/100,000 in 2000-2007 (P<0.001). Incidence increased with age (P<0.001); however, the temporal increase was greater in younger people (P<0.001). Ten years after the index and second diverticulitis episodes, 22% and 55% had a recurrence, respectively. This recurrence rate was greater in younger people (hazard ratio (HR) per decade 0.63; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.59-0.66) and women (HR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.58-0.80). Complications were seen in 12%; this rate did not change over time. Recurrent diverticulitis was associated with a decreased risk of complications (P<0.001). Age was associated with increased risk of local (odds ratio (OR) 1.27 per decade; 95% CI, 1.04-1.57) and systemic (OR 1.83; 95% CI, 1.20-2.80) complications. Survival after diverticulitis was lower in older people (P<0.001) and men (P<0.001) and worsened over time (P<0.001). The incidence of surgery for diverticulitis did not change from 1980 to 2007.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of diverticulitis has increased by 50% in 2000-2007 compared with 1990-1999, and more so in younger people. Complications are relatively uncommon. Recurrent diverticulitis is frequent but typically uncomplicated. Younger people with diverticulitis have less severe disease, more recurrence, and better survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Adil E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bharucha
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Gopanandan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parthasarathy
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ditah
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Ofor
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ewelukwa
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pendlimari
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Olmsted Medical Center, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Yawn
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: L Joseph
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Melton
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics (Emeritus), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schleck
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics (Emeritus), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zinsmeister
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult