Diverticular disease of the colon is extremely common in developed Western nations, in which the most common site of diverticula is the sigmoid. Its prevalence increases with age and complications occur not rarely. In Asia and Africa, however,
lower
overall prevalence, higher frequency in right-side colon than left-side and rarer complications are observed.
Therefore, we analyzed the prevalence, location and the number of diverticula with double-contrast colon studies, and clinical manifestations and complications in 12,599 patients in Seoul National University Hospital from January 1988 to December
1991.
Overall prevalence of diverticular disease of the colon was 4.1%, mean age 53.8 year and the ratio of male to female was 2:1 Diverticula occurred 6 times more frequently in the right-side colon than left-side. The prevalence of diverticula in
left-side
colon increased with age. Mean number of diverticula was 4.9 and the cases with more than 11 diverticula belonged to aged group exclusively. The most common symptoms were abdominal discomforu and pain. Complications were diverticulitis (1.8%) and
lower
gastrointestinal bleeding (1%).
These data suggest that the prevalence of diverticular disease of the colon is low in Korea compared with the prevalence in Western nations, but it is increasing these days. Right-side colon is the predominant site of colonic diverticula in
Korea,
but
increase in frequency in left-side colon with age was observed. Complications were rare and could be managed with medical treatment.
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