Adherence to a Healthy Lifestyle is Associated With a Lower Risk of Diverticulitis among Men

Abstract

Objectives Diverticulitis is a common disease with high clinical burden. We evaluated the joint contribution of multiple lifestyle factors to risks of incident diverticulitis. We also estimated the proportion of diverticulitis preventable by lifestyle modifications. Methods We prospectively examined the association between lifestyle factors [red meat, dietary fiber intake, vigorous physical activity (activity with metabolic equivalent≥6), body mass index (BMI), and smoking] and risk of diverticulitis among participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Results We documented 907 incident cases of diverticulitis during 757,791 person-years. High intake of red meat, low intake of dietary fiber, low vigorous physical activity, high BMI, and smoking were independently associated with increased risks of diverticulitis (all p<0.05). Low-risk lifestyle was defined as average red meat intake <51 grams/day, dietary fiber intake in the top 40% of the cohort (about 23 grams/day), vigorous physical activity in the highest 50% among participants with non-zero vigorous physical activity (roughly 2 hours of exercise weekly), normal BMI between 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, and never-smoker. There was an inverse linear relationship between number of low-risk lifestyle factors and diverticulitis incidence (p for trend<0.001). Compared to men with no low-risk lifestyle factors, the multivariable relative risks of diverticulitis were 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI):0.59–0.87] for men with 1 low-risk lifestyle factor; 0.66 (95% CI:0.55–0.81) for 2 low-risk factors; 0.50 (95% CI:0.40–0.62) for 3 low-risk factors; 0.47 (95% CI:0.35–0.62) for 4 low-risk factors, and 0.27 (95% CI:0.15–0.48) for 5 low-risk factors. Adherence to a low-risk lifestyle could prevent 50% (95% CI:20–71%) of incident diverticulitis. Conclusions Adherence to a low-risk lifestyle is associated with reduced incidence of diverticulitis.

Intake of fibre and plant foods and the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a large prospective cohort study in Sweden

“…This has been illustrated in a study which concluded that a low-risk lifestyle was associated with decreased risk of diverticulitis. A low-risk lifestyle incorporated, in this study, for instance a high intake of fibre, vigorous physical activity and maintaining a normal BMI [30]. The present study identified that there appears to be associations between physical activity and education levels and reduced AAA risk.…”

Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Treatment of Diverticulitis

“…Assuming causal associations, it was estimated that a low-risk lifestyle could prevent half of diverticulitis cases. 53 These findings highlight the importance of diet and lifestyle modification in the prevention of diverticulitis.…”

Dietary fibre intake and the risk of diverticular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies

“…1, Table 1). Only one study reported on dietary fibre intake and risk of diverticulitis [28] and a meta-analysis was, therefore, not possible on this outcome (Table 1). Four studies were from Europe and one study was from the USA.…”