Prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes and hypertension are elevated among middle-aged Japanese men with colonic diverticulum

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To elucidate the prevalence rate of metabolic disorders among subjects with asymptomatic colonic diverticulum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We carried out a cross-sectional analysis of the association between colonic diverticulum and selected metabolic disorders among the male personnel of the Self-Defense Forces who underwent total colonoscopy as part of their retirement check-up (age range, 51-59 years).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence rate of colonic diverticulum was 10.2% among the population studied. The scores of lifestyle factors including those of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were similar between the subjects with colonic diverticulum and those without it. Type 2 diabetes (21.6% vs 14.0%, P=0.047) and hypertension (30.9% vs 19.8%, P=0.011) were more prevalent among the subjects with colonic diverticulum than those without it. The prevalence rates of obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, and impaired glucose tolerance were similar between the two groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes and hypertension are elevated among the middle-aged male subjects with asymptomatic colonic diverticulum. The results may partly explain the reported association between colonic diverticulum and cardiovascular disease.</p>