Student, Master of science, medicine
Lars Christensen
Southern University of Denmark
| Project management | ||
| Project status | Open | |
| Data collection dates | ||
| Start | 03.02.2025 | |
| End | 01.01.2026 | |
Impact of Age on Quality of Life Among Patients with CT- verified Diverticulitis: A Cross-Sectional Study
Short summary
Diverticulitis is a common gastrointestinal condition with increasing incidence in western countries. While most cases are managed conservatively, the long-term impact on disease-specific health related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess and compare the HRQoL, using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), in patients under and over 50 years of age following a CT-verified episode of diverticulitis, within the last five years.
Rationale
Colonic diverticulitis (CD) represents a growing health burden in western countries, not only due to the rising incidence, but also because of the potential lasting impact on patients quality of life (QoL). Diverticular disease refers to a clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic diverticulosis to acute diverticulitis, a condition whose prevalence increases with age - from less than 10% in individuals under 40 years, to around or over 60% among those aged 60 and above - with no significant difference observed between sex. Recent epidemiological trends indicate a marked increase in hospitalizations for CD among adults younger than 50 years, a population previously considered at low risk. This shift has prompted a renewed interest in understanding the long-term consequences of CD and its management, particularly in these younger patients who may live decades with the sequelae of either conservative or surgical treatment. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the influence of age, current body mass index (BMI), their self-reported HRQoL, as measured by the visual analogue score (VAS) on the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire as well as the duration since the first hospital admission with CT-verified diverticulitis of any severity.
Description of the cohort
Participants included individuals diagnosed with CT-verified diverticulitis between January 2020 and February 2025 from the southern region of Denmark.
Data and biological material
Region of southern Denmark, danish ICD-10 codes relevant to diverticulitis, GIQLI and EQ-5D-5L questionnaires. Data from patients journals.
Collaborating researchers and departments
Department of surgery, Odense University Hospital, Svendborg.