Socioeconomic characteristics and comorbidities of diverticular disease in Sweden 1997–2012

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the association of socioeconomic status and comorbidities with uncomplicated and complicated diverticular disease (DD) in Sweden. METHODS: We identified all individuals aged ≥30 years in Sweden diagnosed with DD between 1997 and 2012 using the Swedish National Population and Housing Census and the Hospital Discharge Register. Data were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression, with individual-level characteristics as covariates. RESULTS: A total of 79,481 patients (median age 66 [range 30–86] years) were hospitalized for DD, 15,878 (20%) of whom for complicated DD. Admissions for both uncomplicated and complicated DD were more common in women (p < 0.001). A low education level was identified as a risk factor for uncomplicated (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.75–1.82; adjusted HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19–1.24) and complicated DD (unadjusted HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.77–1.92; adjusted HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.21–1.32). Patients with the lowest income had a lower risk of hospitalization for uncomplicated (adjusted HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.91–0.96) and complicated DD (adjusted HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.83–0.92) than those with the highest income. The correlation coefficient between income and education was 0.25. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease were identified as protective factors against uncomplicated DD (adjusted HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.66–0.69 and HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.74–0.84, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with the lowest education level had an increased risk of hospitalization for DD. Further studies are needed to explore the association of diabetes and cardiovascular disease with uncomplicated DD. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00384-017-2853-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.