Diverticular disease in the elderly

Diverticular disease is of special significance in the elderly and presents almost exclusively in patients over 40 years of age. The incidence and severity of diverticular disease increases with age. Elderly patients often present with complicated diverticular disease, and because of their advanced age, poor ability to provide a history, and muted symptoms and signs, the diagnosis is particularly difficult to make. Consequently, great demands are placed on the physician to diagnose and treat diverticular disease in the elderly. in the past, advanced age made conservative therapy the standard of care for most patients; however, recent endoscopic, radiologic, and surgical advances have helped define more definitive therapies for patients with complicated diverticular disease.