Serious cases of a disorder of the large intestine are surging among Americans younger than 50, researchers say.
Analysing data on more than 5.2 million adults hospitalised for diverticulitis from 2005 to 2020, they found that the proportion of patients under age 50 admitted with serious complications increased from 18.5% to 28.2%.
Furthermore, patients under age 50 who were hospitalised for diverticulitis were more likely to require invasive procedures, with 29% higher odds of needing surgery to remove part of the colon.
They also had 58% higher odds of requiring insertion of a catheter to drain infected fluid, compared to their older counterparts, the researchers reported in Diseases of the Colon and Rectum.
Diverticulitis occurs when food particles, bacteria, and other debris accumulate in small pouches that have formed on weak areas on the wall of the colon, leading to inflammation, abdominal pain, bloating, bleeding, constipation and diarrhea.
In complicated cases, patients may develop abscesses and holes in the colon.
Until now, diverticulitis has been considered more common among older adults. It affects fewer than 20% of people by age 40, increases to 35% to 40% by age 50, and reaches about 60% by age 60, according to U.S. data.
In the oldest age groups, the prevalence can exceed 70%.
"We're seeing a significant shift in who is being hospitalised for severe diverticulitis," study leader Shineui Kim of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA said in a statement.
The findings point to a growing public health concern for younger Americans, with this population having experienced similar increases in colorectal cancer diagnoses, the researchers said.
Treatments have improved, they noted, with the proportion of younger patients requiring surgical removal of part of the colon decreasing from 34.7% to 20.3% during the study period.
The researchers said the potential causes of the rising burden of early-onset diverticulitis require further research.
Pakistan says it has killed 26 militants in strikes on terrorist hideouts along the Afghan border, marking the most significant escalation between the...
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has found that xAI’s Grok chatbot and its parent company X Corp. violated federal privacy law by launching an AI ima...
China's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it had imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family...
The United States launched overnight strikes on military targets across Iran, as President Donald Trump warns of further attacks unless a peace deal i...
Conditions of a climate pattern El Niño have officially developed and are expected to strengthen through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2026-27,...
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has found that xAI’s Grok chatbot and its parent company X Corp. violated federal privacy law by launching an AI image-generation tool without adequate safeguards, enabling the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexualised deepfakes.
China's foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it had imposed sanctions on Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and his immediate family, accusing him of repeatedly making remarks that undermined China's "legitimate interests" and bilateral relations.
The United States launched overnight strikes on military targets across Iran, as President Donald Trump warns of further attacks unless a peace deal is reached. Iran responded by targeting U.S. bases in the Gulf and announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Conditions of a climate pattern El Niño have officially developed and are expected to strengthen through the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2026-27, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center. The forecast raises concerns of extreme weather, agricultural issues and record global temperatures.
Mexico and South Africa meet in Thursday’s World Cup opener in Mexico City, with both teams approaching the match from very different positions but facing their own pressures.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry says 19 citizens have been repatriated following a deadly drone attack on two cargo ships in the Sea of Azov on 5 June.
The Pakistani city of Karachi is struggling under severe heat and humidity as the country enters a prolonged heatwave period. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned of above-normal temperatures across much of the country between 7 and 12 June.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
U.S. forces say they have completed strikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with missile attacks on an American base in Jordan, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the two sides.
A U.S. doctor who contracted Ebola while on a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recovered and been discharged from a hospital in Germany, according to officials.
Protesters in Nanyuki blocked roads and burned tyres after residents challenged a U.S. plan to house Americans exposed to Ebola at a nearby military base.
Global health organisation CEPI will provide around $60 million to Moderna and two other partners to speed up the development of vaccines targeting the Ebola Bundibugyo strain, which is currently driving an outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be significantly larger than official figures suggest, following a visit to the country where he briefed President Felix Tshisekedi on the ongoing response.
Four nurses have recovered and been discharged after receiving treatment for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment