Abstract
Objective:Obesity is becoming a growing health concern in the general population. Multiple studies have linked diverticular disease to obesity. Furthermore, recent research has shown fat to be a critical element in the regulation of immunity and the inflammatory response. In this study, we sought to determine if body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher incidence of complicated diverticulitis.Methods:A retrospective review of patients hospitalized with complicated diverticulitis between 1997 and 2006 was conducted. Medical, surgical and CT (Computed Tomography) guided interventions were evaluated in reference to age, gender, BMI and length of hospital stay (LOS).Results:Charts of 104 controls and 614 patients hospitalized with complicated diverticulitis were reviewed based on specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. There was no significant difference between groups by either gender (P = 0.066) or BMI (P = 0.648). There was a significant difference in age and LOS between three of the analyzed groups. No correlation was noted between BMI and LOS in any of the groups.Discussion:There has been increasing interest in obesity and its ramifications in all areas of medicine, including diverticular disease. Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between acute diverticulitis and obesity, particularly in the young population. This study was undertaken to identify a possible link between complicated diverticulitis and obesity. Anecdotal reports and a few studies have found a parallel association. However, in this retrospective study, no correlation was found between BMI and the incidence of complicated diverticulitis.
This content is limited to qualifying members.
If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.
Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.
Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.
References
References1. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, et al. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999–2000. JAMA 2002;288:1723–1727.FlegalKM]]CarrollMD]]OgdenCL&etal;Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999–2000.JAMA20022881723-17272. Ford ES, Giles WH, Dietz WH. Prevalance of the metabolic syndrome among US adults: findings from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. JAMA 2002;287:356–359.FordES]]GilesWH]]DietzWHPrevalance of the metabolic syndrome among US adults: findings from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.JAMA2002287356-3593. Zaidi E, Daly B. CT and clinical features of acute diverticulitis in an urban US population: rising frequency in young, obese adults. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2006;187:689–694.ZaidiE]]DalyBCT and clinical features of acute diverticulitis in an urban US population: rising frequency in young, obese adults.AJR Am J Roentgenol2006187689-6944. Kang JY, Melville D, Maxwell JD. Epidemiology and management of diverticular diesase of the colon. Drug Aging 2004;21:211–228.KangJY]]MelvilleD]]MaxwellJDEpidemiology and management of diverticular diesase of the colon.Drug Aging200421211-2285. Wong WD, Wexner SD, Lowry A, et al. Practice parameters for the treatment of sigmoid diverticulitis—supporting documentation. The Standards Task Force. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Dis Colon Rectum 2000;43:290–297.WongWD]]WexnerSD]]LowryA&etal;Practice parameters for the treatment of sigmoid diverticulitis—supporting documentation. The Standards Task Force. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Dis Colon Rectum200043290-2976. Chapman J, Davies M, Wolff B, et al. Complicated diverticulitis. Is it time to rethink the rules? Ann Surg 2005;242:576–583.ChapmanJ]]DaviesM]]WolffB&etal;Complicated diverticulitis. Is it time to rethink the rules?Ann Surg2005242576-5837. Peyrin-Biroulet L, Chamaillard M, Gonzalez F, et al. Mesenteric fat in Crohn’s disease: a pathogenetic hallmark or an innocent bystander? Gut 2007;56:577–583.Peyrin-BirouletL]]ChamaillardM]]GonzalezF&etal;Mesenteric fat in Crohn’s disease: a pathogenetic hallmark or an innocent bystander?Gut200756577-5838. Dobbins C, DeFontgalland D, Duthie G, et al. The relationship of obesity to the complication of diverticular disease. Colorectal Dis 2005;8:37–40.DobbinsC]]DeFontgallandD]]DuthieG&etal;The relationship of obesity to the complication of diverticular disease.Colorectal Dis2005837-409. Johnson L. Going for a leaner work force. The Times-Picayune, September 5, 2003, C1–C4.10. Giovannucci E, Michaud D. The role of obesity and related metabolic disturbances in cancers of the colon, prostate and pancreas. Gastroenterology 2007;132:2208–2225.GiovannucciE]]MichaudDThe role of obesity and related metabolic disturbances in cancers of the colon, prostate and pancreas.Gastroenterology20071322208-222511. Cameron AJ, Welborn TA, Zimmet PZ, et al. Overweight and obesity in Australia: the 1999–2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab). Med J Aust 2003;178:427–432.CameronAJ]]WelbornTA]]ZimmetPZ&etal;Overweight and obesity in Australia: the 1999–2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab).Med J Aust2003178427-43212. Matarese G, Moschos S, Mantzoros CS. Leptin in immunology. J Immunol 2005;174:3137–3142.MatareseG]]MoschosS]]MantzorosCSLeptin in immunology.J Immunol20051743137-314213. Siegmund B, Lehr HA, Fantuzzi G. Leptin: a pivotal mediator of intestinal inflammation in mice. Gastroenterology 2002;122:2011–2025.SiegmundB]]LehrHA]]FantuzziGLeptin: a pivotal mediator of intestinal inflammation in mice.Gastroenterology20021222011-2025
