Colonic diverticular disease is common among industrialized societies. The prevalence, anatomical location, and symptoms of diverticular disease have different characteristics among patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, symptoms, and distribution pattern of diverticulosis in our hospital.

A prospective descriptive study of the cases of diverticular disease was conducted between April 2017 and July 2019 at Yas Hospital. We analyzed the demographic characteristics, colonoscopy findings and gastrointestinal symptoms of the patients with a diagnosis of diverticulosis among the patients who referred for screening colonoscopy to our hospital.

About 880 patients who underwent screening colonoscopy during 27 months period were evaluated. 14.5% (n=128) of the patients had diverticular disease. The patients were aged 40-75 years with a median age of 56 years. There were 72.7% (n=93) female and 27.3% (n=35) male with an average female to male ratio of 3:1. The most common finding was asymptomatic diverticulosis in 54% (n=69) then 40% (n=51) had symptomatic uncomplicated diverticulosis, and 6% (n=8) had segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis. Most of the diverticula was localized to the sigmoid in 69.5% (n=89) then 21% (n=27) had left diverticulosis and 9.5 % (n=12) had pancolonic diverticulosis. Spasticity and rigidity of bowel were noted more in women than men. The most common symptom was flatulence in 65.6% (n=84) patients. 36% (n=46) patients presented with recurring abdominal pain, whereas and 3.1% (n=4) patient had a history of massive rectal bleeding. 4.7% (n=6) had a history of diverticulitis attack.

Our cases showed the asymptomatic diverticular disease is a common disease among middle and elderly patients. Diverticula were predominantly in left colon and female sex.