The effects of diabetes mellitus on clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with acute diverticulitis

Objectives Acute diverticulitis is a common gastrointestinal illness due to diverticular inflammation and focal necrosis. Diabetes mellitus has been reported to influence the outcomes of patients with diverticular disease. Our study aimed to examine the inpatient outcomes and complications of patients with acute diverticulitis and coexisting diabetes mellitus. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was used to identify adult patients in 2014 admitted for acute diverticulitis. Primary outcomes were mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges. Secondary outcomes were complications of acute diverticulitis and interventions. Results In total, 44 330 of patients with acute diverticulitis and diabetes mellitus were included in the analysis. Acute diverticulitis patients with diabetes mellitus had a higher rate of diverticular bleeding (P < 0.0001), but lower rates of abscess (P < 0.0001), obstruction (P < 0.0001) and colectomy (P < 0.0001) when compared to acute diverticulitis patients without diabetes mellitus. Complicated diabetes mellitus was associated with a longer LOS (P = 0.00003) and greater total hospitalization charges (P = 0.0021) compared to uncomplicated diabetes mellitus when coexisting with acute diverticulitis. Conclusions Acute diverticulitis with diabetes mellitus is associated with a higher rate of diverticular bleeding, lower rates of abscess, obstruction, and colectomy compared to acute diverticulitis without diabetes mellitus. When coexisting with acute diverticulitis, complicated diabetes mellitus is not associated with higher rates of mortality or diverticulitis-related complications compared to uncomplicated diabetes mellitus.