P3004 - Obesity Is an Independent Predictor in Hospitalization for Diverticulitis

Kevin Yang, MD, Gregory D. Gudleski, PhD, Alexander M. Carlson, DO, Nariman Hossein-Javaheri, DO, Ali A.. Aijaz, DO, Omar Arman, MD, Corrine Kickel, MD, Matthew J.. Hudson, MD, Mayada Ismail, MD
University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

Introduction: Diverticulosis and its complications such as diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding are a major cause of hospitalization and healthcare burden. Obesity has emerged as a risk factor for diverticulosis, although data is still lacking. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between obesity and hospitalization for diverticular disease.

Methods: We designed a retrospective study on all consecutive patients admitted to a tertiary care center from 2017-2022 with conditions directly related to diverticular disease, including diverticular bleeding, diverticulitis, abscesses, obstruction, and perforation. We classified patients into obese versus non-obese with cutoff BMI of 30.0. Collected data included demographics, BMI, medical history, and clinical data such as admission/discharge diagnoses. Statistical analysis involved bivariate analyses to examine associations among demographic data/history and diverticular disease. Statistically significant variables were then entered into logistic regression analyses.

Results: A total of 230 patients were included, with 114 classified as non-obese BMI < 30 and 116 as obese BMI ≥ 30. Mean BMI was 31.2 (SD = 7.9). 158 patients were admitted with diverticulitis, 52 with diverticular bleeding, 68 with diverticular abscess, and 53 with micro-perforation/frank perforation. Additionally, patients with BMI ≥ 30 were significantly more likely to have a history of hypertension (OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.02/3.03), obstructive sleep apnea (OR = 4.67, 95% CI = 1.29/16.89), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (OR = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.81/22.33), as well as be of younger age and classified as black. Obese patients were also more likely to be admitted for diverticulitis (OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.32/4.16) and have a recurrent hospitalization for diverticulitis (OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.27/4.29). Regression analysis results indicated that obesity (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.07/3.52) and older age were significant independent predictors of diverticulitis. The only significant predictor of diverticular bleeding was older age, and history of NAFLD predicted diverticular abscess.

Discussion: In this retrospective study, obesity was significantly associated with hospitalization for diverticulitis and recurrence of diverticulitis, in addition to being an independent predictor for diverticulitis. Older age predicted diverticulitis and diverticular bleeding, while NAFLD was an independent predictor of diverticular abscess.


Disclosures:


Kevin Yang, MD, Gregory D. Gudleski, PhD, Alexander M. Carlson, DO, Nariman Hossein-Javaheri, DO, Ali A.. Aijaz, DO, Omar Arman, MD, Corrine Kickel, MD, Matthew J.. Hudson, MD, Mayada Ismail, MD. P3004 - Obesity Is an Independent Predictor in Hospitalization for Diverticulitis, ACG 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Vancouver, BC, Canada: American College of Gastroenterology.