%0 Journal Article
%T Diagnostic delay in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease: an Italian tertiary referral centre study.
%A Santacroce G
%A Lenti MV
%A Abruzzese GM
%A Alunno G
%A Di Terlizzi F
%A Frenna C
%A Gentile A
%A Latorre MA
%A Petrucci C
%A Ruggeri D
%A Soriano S
%A Aronico N
%A Rossi CM
%A De Silvestri A
%A Corazza GR
%A Di Sabatino A
%J Intern Emerg Med
%V 19
%N 1
%D 2024 Jan 27
%M 37891452
%F 5.472
%R 10.1007/s11739-023-03446-x
%X The magnitude of the diagnostic delay of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) is unknown; we aimed to evaluate SUDD diagnostic delay and its risk factors. SUDD patients diagnosed at a tertiary referral centre were retrospectively enrolled (2010-2022). Demographic and clinical data were retrieved. Overall, patient-, and physician-dependant diagnostic delays were assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were fitted to identify risk factors for diagnostic delay. Overall, 70 SUDD patients (median age 65 years, IQR 52-74; F:M ratio = 1.6:1) were assessed. The median overall diagnostic delay was 7 months (IQR 2-24), patient-dependant delay was 3 months (IQR 0-15), and physician-dependant delay was 1 month (IQR 0-6). Further, 25% of patients were misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). At multivariate analysis, previous misdiagnosis was a significant risk factor for overall and physician-dependant diagnostic delay (OR 9.99, p = 0.01, and OR 6.46, p = 0.02, respectively). Also, a high educational level (> 13 years) was associated with a greater overall diagnostic delay (OR 8.74 p = 0.02), while previous abdominal surgery was significantly associated to reduced physician-dependant diagnostic delay (OR 0.19 p = 0.04). To conclude, SUDD may be diagnosed late, IBS being the most frequent misdiagnosis. Timely diagnosis is crucial to tackle the burden of SUDD on patients and healthcare.