Diverticulitis Not Associated With Constipation

Diverticulitis Not Associated With Constipation

Douglas K. Rex, MD, MASGE, reviewing Jovani M, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 Jan 5.

In this study, researchers evaluated the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and Health Professional Follow-up Study (HPFS) databases to examine the association of diverticulitis with bowel movement frequency. In the NHS, when compared to women with daily bowel movements, the hazard ratio (HR) for diverticulitis was 1.30 in women with more than once-daily bowel movements and 0.89 in those with less than daily bowel movements. In HPFS, compared to those with daily bowel movements, the HR for diverticulitis was 1.29 in those with more than once-daily bowel movements and 0.61 in those with less than daily bowel movements.

Douglas K. Rex, MD, FASGE

COMMENT

Previous studies have also found that diverticular disease, regardless of whether it is symptomatic or asymptomatic, is more often associated with frequent bowel movements than with constipation. This is counterintuitive and counter to traditional dogma.

Note to readers: At the time we reviewed this paper, its publisher noted that it was not in final form and that subsequent changes might be made.

CITATION(S)

Jovani M, Ma W, Staller K, et al. Frequency of bowel movements and risk of diverticulitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 Jan 5. (Epub ahead of print) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2021.01.003)

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