Who gets diverticulosis (and painful diverticular disease and diverticulitis)?
In the USA, about 30% of 50 to 70 year-olds will have diverticulosis. This increases to about 50% in 70 to 85 year-olds, and as much as 65% in the over-85s. Both men and women are equally affected. As we have noted, 80% of people with diverticulosis never have any symptoms. Of those who do have symptoms, three-quarters have the less serious symptomatic diverticular disease, and one quarter have diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is hardly known outside industrialized Western societies. However, this may change as dietary habits become more internationalized, with consumption of more highly processed foods and increased rates of obesity. It’s been shown that it results from a low-residue diet, usually because of the removal of most of the fiber from flour and other foods. Low-residue intestinal contents mean the time spent in the colon increases, and the amount of stool is less. There is also likely to be more straining during defecation, raising the pressure inside the colon. All this incr
