Diverticulosis Unlinked to Abdominal Pain and Bowel Changes: Study

Researchers in Sweden have found no significant correlation between diverticulosis and symptoms such as abdominal pain or changes in bowel habits. Led by Bjarki T. Alexandersson of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, the study focused on understanding whether individuals with diverticulosis experience different symptoms compared to those without the condition. Published online on February 17, 2025, in Neurogastroenterology & Motility, the researchers aimed to bring clarity to a condition affecting many yet often misunderstood.

To achieve this, the study analyzed data from a population-based cohort in Stockholm, involving 745 individuals who underwent colonoscopy. Among them, 258 participants, predominantly women with a median age of 56, completed a seven-day symptom diary before their procedures. The study identified 50 cases of diverticulosis within this group. Participants meticulously documented their abdominal pain, including severity, location, and duration, as well as their bowel habits using the Bristol stool form scale.

The findings revealed no significant association between diverticulosis and abdominal pain, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.24 and a P-value of .55. Nevertheless, those with diverticulosis who experienced pain reported it more frequently in the left lower quadrant, with an OR of 2.45 and a P-value of .045. Furthermore, the study concluded that diverticulosis did not correlate with alterations in bowel movement frequency, urgency, straining, or stool consistency.

"Our results do not support that uncomplicated diverticulosis causes symptoms in individuals without a history of acute diverticulitis,"

• Bjarki T. Alexandersson

The rigorous documentation process employed by the researchers adds to the reliability of these findings. Pain severity was assessed on a three-point scale, while pain location was categorized into four abdominal quadrants for precise analysis. Financial backing for the study came from the Ruth och Richard Julins Foundation and Stiftelsen Professor Nanna Svartz Fond.