Colonic diverticular disease in a multiracial Asian patient population has an ethnic predilection

Background Traditionally, diverticular disease of the colon has been attributed to ageing, low dietary fibre and a high intraluminal pressure. Recently, genetic and racial factors have also been implicated. Methods Four-hundred and ten consecutive multiracial Asian patients undergoing colonoscopy for a variety of bowel symptoms in a private endoscopy unit were studied for differing frequencies (if any) in colonic diverticular disease and concomitant abnormalities. Results Forty-one patients (10%) had diverticular disease. Diverticula were present in 22/147 Chinese (15%), 14/153 Indians (9%) and 5/110 Malays (4.5%). The mean age of patients with diverticular disease was 55 years as compared with 51.3 years in those without (P=0.12) and there was no gender difference. Thirty-six patients (88%) had diverticula in the right colon only, four patients (10%) exclusively in the left hemicolon, and one patient (2%) had bilateral involvement. Using regression analysis, Chinese ethnicity [odds ratio (OR)=2.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09–4.09; P=0.027), constipation (OR=2.65; 95% CI, 1.23–5.42; P=0.007) and colorectal adenomas (OR=2.65; 95% CI, 1.08–6.46; P=0.033) were independently associated with diverticular disease. Conclusions Colonic diverticular disease in a multiracial Asian patient population has an ethnic predilection and is predominantly right-sided.