Obesity and the Risk of Colonic Diverticulosis: A Meta-analysis.

Abstract

The possible relationship between obesity and the risk of colonic diverticulosis has been suggested by recent epidemiologic studies, although the results were inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to summarize all of the available data. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through January 2017. Studies that compared the risk of colonic diverticulosis among subjects with obesity versus those without obesity were included. Effect estimates from each study were extracted and combined together using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method. Of 2989 potentially eligible articles, 10 studies (9 cross-sectional studies and 1 prospective cohort study) with 53,520 participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The risk of colonic diverticulosis in obese subjects was significantly higher than in those without obesity, with a pooled OR of 1.41 (95% CI, 1.20-1.65). The statistical heterogeneity was high, with an I of 75%. High statistical heterogeneity and publication bias in favor of positive studies may have been present in this meta-analysis. A significant association between colonic diverticulosis and obesity was shown in this study. However, additional studies are still required to determine the causality. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A500.