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. 2019 Jun 17:12:1756284819855734.
doi: 10.1177/1756284819855734. eCollection 2019.

Hypertension control and risk of colonic diverticulosis

Li-Xian Yeo  1 , Tzu-Hsiang Tseng  1 , Wei-Liang Chen  1 , Tung-Wei Kao  1 , Li-Wei Wu  1 , Wen-Hui Fang  1 , Yaw-Wen Chang  1 , Tao-Chun Peng  1
Affiliations

Hypertension control and risk of colonic diverticulosis

Li-Xian Yeo et al. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of diverticulosis has increased in our aging population, but the risk factors for diverticulosis are not fully understood. The role of hypertension in the risk of diverticulosis remains uncertain. This study investigated whether hypertension is associated with asymptomatic colorectal diverticulosis.

Methods: This study enrolled asymptomatic patients who received a colonoscopy as part of a health check. Hypertension was defined by actual measured blood pressure. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between hypertension and diverticulosis. In addition, we established three logistic regression models for covariate adjustment, and further stratified patients with hypertension into three subgroups based on their type of hypertension.

Results: The study group consisted of 2748 participants, including 141 participants with diverticulosis and 2607 participants without diverticulosis. After adjustments for potential covariates, the odds ratio (OR) for having diverticulosis was 1.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.21-2.75, p = 0.004) in the hypertension group compared with the group without hypertension. In subgroup analyses, hypertension without antihypertensive medication use, and hypertension despite the use of antihypertensive medication were also significantly associated with the occurrence of asymptomatic diverticulosis (OR = 1.73, p = 0.028; OR = 2.07, p = 0.013, respectively). Current normal blood pressure under antihypertensive drug therapy was not associated with diverticulosis (OR = 1.74, p = 0.092).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest a positive association between hypertension and diverticulosis. Participants with poorly controlled blood pressure were found to have a higher risk of asymptomatic diverticulosis. Our study presents epidemiologic evidence for future prevention strategies against diverticulosis.

Keywords: age; diverticulosis; hypertension; obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Prevalence of diverticulosis stratified by age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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