RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Colonic diverticular disease has an incidence from 66 to 85% in population older than 65 years. Most of them remain asymptomatic;20% will be symptomatic and about 35%will present an episode of Acute Colonic Diverticulitis(ACD). To date, there are not studies to compare its presentation in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, treatment and complications of acute colonic diverticulitis (ACD)in patients older and younger than 65 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients diagnosed with ACD from January 2003 to May 2006. Exclusion criteria included patients with incomplete medical records and those who didn't complete the in hospital treatment. Demographic,clinical, laboratory, and radiological,prognostic variables as well as chosen treatment,presence of complications were evaluated. Descriptive and comparative statistic analysis was performed by the Fisher Exact Test for categorical variables and Student t-Test for continual variables considering a statistically significant difference for p <0.05. The analysis was made with SPSS/PC v12.0 software. RESULTS: Of 126 patients, 69 were men and 57 women; 93 younger than 65 years and 33 older than 65 years. 20 patients were excluded by previously defined criteria. Significant statistical differences were found for presence of pain in the left inferior quadrant (73.2% vs. 48.5% p <0.01); mean hemoglobin level (14.6 vs. 13.2 g/dL p<0.01), presence of anemia (10.8% vs. 27.3% p <0.05) use of ultrasonography (24.7% vs. 6.1%,p < 0.05) and presence of hemorrhage (3.3% vs.21.3% p < 0.01) respectively. There was not mortality in the series. CONCLUSION: This series demonstrates that elderly patients with ACD have a greater rate of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and greater degree of anemia than younger patients.