Emergency Department Burden of Diverticulitis in the USA, 2006-2013.
The aim of this study was to analyze recent trends in emergency department (ED) visits for diverticulitis between 2006 and 2013.



Acute diverticulitis is a serious medical condition that frequently leads to ED visits, hospitalizations, and surgeries resulting in a significant health care burden.



Data were obtained from the National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) records in which diverticulitis (ICD-9-CM codes 562.11 and 562.13) was the primary diagnosis in the ED between 2006 and 2013. The NEDS collects data from more than 25 million visits in over 950 hospital emergency departments and is weighted to provide national estimates. Our findings reflected patient and hospital characteristics such as demographics, geographical region, and total charges for ED and inpatient stays.



Between 2006 and 2013, the rate of diverticulitis-related ED visits increased by 26.8% from 89.8 to 113.9 visits per 100,000 population. The aggregate national cost of diverticulitis-related ED visits increased by 105%, from approximately $822 million in 2006 to over $1.6 billion in 2013. Cost data were adjusted for inflation and reported in 2015 dollars. The percentage of individuals admitted to the same hospital from the ED decreased from 58.0 to 47.1% from 2006 to 2013, respectively, while the rate of bowel surgeries per 100,000 ED visits for diverticulitis decreased by 33.7% from 2006 to 2013.



The number of ED visits due to diverticulitis and associated costs continued to rise between 2006 and 2013, while the rate of bowel surgeries and inpatient admissions through the ED for diverticulitis decreased.
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Andrea
A
Bollom
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Jasmine
J
Austrie
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
William
W
Hirsch
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Judy
J
Nee
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Daniel
D
Friedlander
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Kelli
K
Ellingson
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Vivian
V
Cheng
Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. Alembo@bidmc.harvard.edu.
Anthony
0000-0002-4479-1188
A
Lembo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000639:trends; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000639:trends; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000639:trends; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000639:trends; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Acute diverticulitis; Diverticulitis; Diverticulitis prevalence; Emergency department