Diverticulosis is a common intestinal complaint that hospitalises a great many Danes every year. An extensive study involving more than 140,000 Danish patients has now documented that the illness is not only attributable to a low-fibre diet and advanced age. A person’s genes have a role to play as well:

“Our survey revealed a clear bias in the illness towards twins and other siblings. Up until now, it was thought that the illness was overwhelmingly caused by age and environmental factors, so the survey sheds new light on who may be in the risk zone,” relates Professor Henrik Toft Sørensen from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital. 

It is estimated that 30-50 per cent of the adult populations in western countries suffer from diverticulosis, which is the medical term for outpocketings (diverticula) of the colonic mucosa. The risk increases with age.

Great potential in improved prevention

Many people who have the condition exhibit no symptoms at all, but 15-25% develop complications in the form of constipation, stomach cramps, bleeding and infection.

“The illness is serious for patients whose diverticula become infected and require treatment with antibiotics. In very serious cases, the intestine can actually rupture and an operation is necessary.  However, with the new knowledge about the contributory effect of hereditary factors, we may be able to prevent the illness in future and reduce the number of people who experience painful complications,” says Henrik Toft Sørensen.

He adds that improved prevention will also help the healthcare service make a significant reduction in the expenses linked to treating the large and steadily increasing number of patients who suffer from the illness.  The number of Danes affected by the illness has doubled over the past 15 years.

Henrik Toft Sørensen has conducted the survey in partnership with researchers from Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, the University of Southern Denmark and a number of American researchers.

Facts about the survey

• A total of 142,123 Danish patients were treated for diverticulosis in the period 1977-2011.
• Of these, 10,420 were siblings and 923 were twins.
• For siblings, the relative risk of developing the condition increased by 2.92 in relation to the control population.
• For identical twins, the risk was fully 14.4 times higher compared to the control population.

Find out more

The article is published in the recognised scientific journal Gastroenterology

Additional information

Professor Henrik Toft Sørensen, Consultant, DMSc, PhD
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine,  Department of Clinical Epidemiology and
Aarhus University Hospital
Tel. +45 8716 8215 / +45 5168 0555
hts@dce.au.dk