Demographics and trends in the acute presentation of diverticular disease: a national study. Issue 10 (29th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vather, Ryash; Broad, Joanna B.; Jaung, Rebekah; Robertson, Jason; Bissett, Ian P.
• Is Part Of: ANZ journal of surgery. Volume 85:Issue 10(2015)
• Page Start: 744
• Page End: 748
• Publication Date: 2015-04-29
• Subjects: Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1111/ans.13147
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1445-1433

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ans13147-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Diverticular disease (DD) is a major health problem in the Western world. The aim of this study was to describe demographics and trends in acute DD admissions in New Zealand.</p> </sec> <sec id="ans13147-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Information pertaining to acute hospital admissions between January 2000 and June 2012 for a primary diagnosis of large bowel DD was retrieved from a national database.</p> </sec> <sec id="ans13147-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>There were 25 167 admissions for acute DD. Mean age of presentation decreased from 65.9 years in 2000 to 64.1 years in 2012 (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Mean age was lower in men than women (61.4 versus 67.4 years, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Although men comprised 45.2% of the cohort they were over‐represented in the 18–44 years stratum (68.6 versus 31.4%; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Europeans accounted for 84.8% of admissions and presented at an older age (65.8 years) than Māori (56.2 years), Pacific Islanders (58.4 years) or Asians (58.9 years) (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Acute DD admissions were higher in more deprived populations (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Mean length of hospital stay (LOS) reduced from 5.8 days in 2000 to 4.1 days in 2012 (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). LOS increased with age (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and deprivation (<italic>P</italic> = 0.013), but did not differ between ethnicities (<italic>P</italic> = 0.088). Computed tomography scanning of acute admissions doubled from 2000 to 2012 (29.7–59.2%; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) with a halving in the use of acute in‐patient colonoscopy (26.1–13.2%; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and emergent surgery (14.8–7.2%; <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). Percutaneous drain use increased from 0.6% in 2000 to 1.1% in 2012 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.003).</p> </sec> <sec id="ans13147-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Acute DD is a source of considerable morbidity in New Zealand and there have been significant changes in its admission demographics and trends over the last decade.</p> </sec> </abstract>