Diverticular disease
Diverticular disease is collective term for the related conditions of diverticulosis, diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding (Diverticular Disease, 2024).
Diverticula are "small bulges or pouches in the walls of the intestine" (NHS, 2024). When these divertcula exist but cause no symptoms it is referred to as diverticulosis (Diverticular Disease - NIDDK, n.d.). When a diverticula ruptures it is referred to as diverticulitis (Diverticular Disease | ASCRS, n.d.).
Symptoms of diverticulosis can include pain, fever, or bleeding from the rectum (Diverticular Disease | ASCRS, n.d.). There may also be "nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping" related to infection (Diverticular Disease, 2024).
Diverticular disease is diagnosed through a medical history, physical examination, and a colonoscopy and lower gastrointestinal (GI) series (Diverticular Disease - NIDDK, n.d.). A CT scan and flexible sigmoidoscopy are also suggested as possible tests (Diverticular Disease, 2024).
A study by Strate et al found a correlation between high BMI and diverticulosis and waist-to-hip ratio with diverticular bleeding (2008). There are suggestions that a lack of exercise, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and smoking could also be risk factors (Diverticular Disease, 2024).
There's no known way to prevent the formation of diverticula although reducing risk factors may be helpful (Diverticulosis & Diverticulitis | ACG, 2024), the likelihood simply increases with age (National Library of Medicine, n.d.).
Diverticulitis is treated with diet changes, rest, and occasionally antibiotics (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2024). However antibiotic treatment is often limited to complicated diverticulitis and there's no good evidence to suggest treatment for recurring episodes (Tursi et al., 2015).
A 2011 cross-sectional study found that a high-fiber diet and frequent bowel movements was associated with a higher prevalence of asymptomatic diverticulosis (Peery et al., 2011). This research is in contrast to a study from a decade earlier that did find evidence that dietary fiber decreases the risk of diverticular disease (Aldoori et al., 1998).
References
Aldoori, W. H., Giovannucci, E. L., Rockett, H. R., Sampson, L., Rimm, E. B., & Willett, W. C. (1998). A Prospective study of Dietary fiber Types and Symptomatic diverticular Disease in Men ,. Journal of Nutrition, 128(4), 714–719. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/128.4.714
Diverticular Disease - NIDDK. (n.d.). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diverticulosis-diverticulitis
Diverticular disease. (2024, April 16). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diverticular-disease
Diverticular Disease | ASCRS. (n.d.). https://fascrs.org/patients/diseases-and-conditions/a-z/diverticular-disease
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2024, May 15). Diverticulitis - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371758
Diverticulosis & diverticulitis | ACG. (2024, May 13). American College of Gastroenterology. https://gi.org/topics/diverticulosis-and-diverticulitis/
Peery, A. F., Barrett, P. R., Park, D., Rogers, A. J., Galanko, J. A., Martin, C. F., & Sandler, R. S. (2011). A High-Fiber diet does not protect against asymptomatic diverticulosis. Gastroenterology, 142(2), 266-272.e1. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2011.10.035
National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Diverticulosis and diverticulitis. https://medlineplus.gov/diverticulosisanddiverticulitis.html
NHS. (2024, June 18). Diverticular disease and diverticulitis. nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diverticular-disease-and-diverticulitis/
Tursi, A., Papa, A., & Danese, S. (2015). Review article: the pathophysiology and medical management of diverticulosis and diverticular disease of the colon. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 42(6), 664–684. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13322
Strate, L. L., Liu, Y. L., Aldoori, W. H., Syngal, S., & Giovannucci, E. L. (2008). Obesity increases the risks of diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding. Gastroenterology, 136(1), 115-122.e1. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2008.09.025