Obesity and the Risk of Colonic Diverticulosis: A Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: The possible relationship between obesity and the risk of colonic diverticulosis has been suggested by recent epidemiologic studies, although the results were inconsistent.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize all of the available data.

Data sources: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through January 2017.

Study selection: Studies that compared the risk of colonic diverticulosis among subjects with obesity versus those without obesity were included.

Main outcome measures: Effect estimates from each study were extracted and combined together using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method.

Results: Of 2989 potentially eligible articles, 10 studies (9 cross-sectional studies and 1 prospective cohort study) with 53,520 participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of colonic diverticulosis in obese subjects was significantly higher than in those without obesity, with a pooled OR of 1.41 (95% CI, 1.20-1.65). The statistical heterogeneity was high, with an I of 75%.

Limitations: High statistical heterogeneity and publication bias in favor of positive studies may have been present in this meta-analysis.

Conclusions: A significant association between colonic diverticulosis and obesity was shown in this study. However, additional studies are still required to determine the causality. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A500.