Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLife Expectancy ImpactsIs It Life-Threatening?Living a Long Life
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Life Expectancy Impacts
Is It Life-Threatening?
Living a Long Life
Diverticulitisdoesn’t affect thelife expectancyof most people with the condition. While complications from diverticulitis can be fatal, this outcome is not common.
Diverticular diseaseis a common condition, especially in people over age 60. Diverticulosis is the presence of bulges or pouches called diverticula in the lining of the colon. They don’t usually cause any symptoms, and most people don’t know they are there unless they are discovered during a test that looks at the large intestine.
If they become inflamed, however, they cause a condition known as diverticulitis. This can lead to abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea, and, in some cases, bleeding. This article will discuss how having diverticulitis may affect life expectancy and what may lead to it being a life-threatening condition.
F.J. Jimenez / Getty Images
How Does Diverticulitis Impact Life Expectancy?
Having diverticula in the colon doesn’t lead to symptoms or complications for most people. However, about 5% of people with diverticular disease might go on to develop diverticulitis. In about 20% of those people, their condition will be considered “complicated” diverticulitis.
Complications of diverticulitis can include:
When to Seek Medical CareDiverticulitis is usually treated at home without complications. However, it is important to get diverticulitis diagnosed and evaluated for any of the potential complications. Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, vomiting, constipation and/or diarrhea, dizziness, and fainting/loss of consciousness are reasons to seek care from a healthcare provider.
When to Seek Medical Care
Diverticulitis is usually treated at home without complications. However, it is important to get diverticulitis diagnosed and evaluated for any of the potential complications. Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, vomiting, constipation and/or diarrhea, dizziness, and fainting/loss of consciousness are reasons to seek care from a healthcare provider.
One study showed that mortality (death) rates in people with diverticulitis weren’t any higher than for people in the general population. However, in this research, the risk of death linked to diverticulitis was higher in older people, men, and people who had diverticulitis recently (as opposed to several years prior).
Having one or more complications of diverticulitis also increased the risk of death in this study.
Note that when research or health authorities are cited, the terms for sex or gender from the source are used.
Differences in Women and Men
Diverticular disease is more common as people get older. Diverticulitis also is more common in men who are under the age of 60 than in women in this age group. After the age of 60, it becomes more common in women.
There may be differences between how often females die from complications of diverticular disease vs. males. One study showed that diverticulitis as a cause of death for females was almost twice that of males.
These numbers don’t give much context as to why that might be. It is noted, however, that females in the study were more likely to developsepsis(the body’s extreme, life-threatening response to a severe infection), and males were more likely to have surgical complications. The authors call for more careful monitoring of diverticulitis in females.
Diverticulitis in Different GendersThere are still unknowns as to how diverticulitis may affect people of different sexes or genders. More research is needed on the disparities in care and in how diverticulitis affects people across the gender spectrum.
Diverticulitis in Different Genders
There are still unknowns as to how diverticulitis may affect people of different sexes or genders. More research is needed on the disparities in care and in how diverticulitis affects people across the gender spectrum.
Effect of Acute Diverticulitis
After having one bout of diverticulitis, most people (about 84%) will not go on to have another. Having a second round of the disease, though, may raise the incidence of death.
Some of the factors that may increase the risk of death from recurrent diverticulitis include:
Recurrent DiverticulitisOf people who have diverticulitis once, about 20% to 35% may go on to have recurrent or chronic diverticulitis. About 36% may have symptoms that linger after the firstdiverticulitis flare-up. People with symptoms that affect their quality of life in the long term might be counseled about having surgery.
Recurrent Diverticulitis
Of people who have diverticulitis once, about 20% to 35% may go on to have recurrent or chronic diverticulitis. About 36% may have symptoms that linger after the firstdiverticulitis flare-up. People with symptoms that affect their quality of life in the long term might be counseled about having surgery.
Acute Diverticulitis
Is Diverticulitis Life-Threatening?
In most cases, diverticulitis is not life-threatening. One study of more than 200,000 people showed that with a first flare-up of diverticulitis, 2.7% of people who were hospitalized died.
Upon a second flare-up of diverticulitis, mortality was 2.2% in those who received treatment. In people who underwent surgery to treat that second flare-up, 4.6% died.
Complications After Diverticulitis SurgerySurgery to remove the affected part of the bowel can be used to treat diverticulitis. This is usually reserved for people who are having repeated attacks or who have ongoing pain. However, surgery doesn’t remove the possibility of diverticulitis altogether. Some studies have revealed that the risk of diverticulitis flaring up again after surgery may be as high as 15%.Chronic pain can occur with diverticular disease. Studies on people after surgery found that chronic pain could affect as many as 25%. In addition, complications may affect as many as 10% to 20% of patients after surgery.
Complications After Diverticulitis Surgery
Surgery to remove the affected part of the bowel can be used to treat diverticulitis. This is usually reserved for people who are having repeated attacks or who have ongoing pain. However, surgery doesn’t remove the possibility of diverticulitis altogether. Some studies have revealed that the risk of diverticulitis flaring up again after surgery may be as high as 15%.Chronic pain can occur with diverticular disease. Studies on people after surgery found that chronic pain could affect as many as 25%. In addition, complications may affect as many as 10% to 20% of patients after surgery.
Surgery to remove the affected part of the bowel can be used to treat diverticulitis. This is usually reserved for people who are having repeated attacks or who have ongoing pain. However, surgery doesn’t remove the possibility of diverticulitis altogether. Some studies have revealed that the risk of diverticulitis flaring up again after surgery may be as high as 15%.
Chronic pain can occur with diverticular disease. Studies on people after surgery found that chronic pain could affect as many as 25%. In addition, complications may affect as many as 10% to 20% of patients after surgery.
Living a Long Life With Diverticulitis
For most people, diverticulitis won’t affect their life span. Many people don’t even know they have diverticular disease. Only a small percentage will have symptoms, and an even smaller number will have complications.
While the exact causes of diverticular disease aren’t completely understood, there are a few factors that may increase the risk, as follows:
Summary
In most cases, diverticulitis is not considered to be a life-threatening or life-limiting condition. However, symptoms of diverticulitis, such as abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea, and lower-digestive-tract bleeding, can cause complications that can raise the risk of mortality.
Diverticulitis is usually treated at home with rest and a liquid or low-fiber diet to start. For people who have complications, treatment in the hospital is needed to prevent further problems.
People who are at risk of diverticular disease or who have already been diagnosed should talk to a healthcare provider about lowering their risk of diverticulitis.
13 Sources
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