Uncomplicated Diverticular disease is not a Common Cause of Colonic Symptoms such as those of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Jin-Yong Kang (1) , Belal Firwana (2) , Alicia Green (2) , Helen Matthews (2) , Andrew Poullis (2) , Ashley Barnabas (2) , Lai Ting Tan (3) , Guan Lim (3)

1 Depat of Gastroenterology
2 Depat of Gastroenterology
3 Gastroenterology

Background Colonic diverticular disease is common among older individuals while colonic symptoms such as those of irritable bowel syndrome are frequent in the general population. Aim To determine, among patients in secondary care, if uncomplicated diverticular disease is a common cause of colonic symptoms. Methods Patients aged ≥ 50 years attending gastroenterology outpatient clinics or scheduled for colonoscopy or barium enema in a secondary care hospital were invited to take part. Those with structural gastrointestinal diseases were excluded. Participants completed a locally validated Rome II questionnaire on colonic symptoms. Patients with diverticular disease were compared with those without. Results 784 patients with no structural pathology other than diverticular disease or benign colonic polyps completed the study. 744 patients underwent colonoscopy: 40 barium enema. 281 patients had diverticular disease. Among patients with and without diverticular disease, the frequency of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome were 123 (44%) and 226 (46%), 44 (16 %) and 80 (17%), 38 (14%) and 80 (17%) and 66 (25%) and 119 (25%), respectively (NS). Conclusion Uncomplicated colonic diverticular disease is not a common cause of colonic symptoms, such as those of irritable bowel syndrome, among patients in secondary care.

Mots clés: Medicine

Jin-Yong Kang, Belal Firwana, Alicia Green, Helen Matthews, Andrew Poullis, et al.. Uncomplicated Diverticular disease is not a Common Cause of Colonic Symptoms such as those of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2010, 33 (4), pp.487. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04540.x⟩. ⟨hal-00613796⟩