Prior abdominal surgery as a potential risk factor for colonic diverticulosis or diverticulitis

Table 4 Matching between patients with and without diverticulitis

Characteristics	Without diverticulitis, n = 59	With diverticulitis, n = 59	P value
Mean age	67	67	0.820
Male sex as %	57	57
Mean BMI	28	26	0.150
Origin			0.470
Israel	24 (47)	31 (52)
South Europe	19 (32)	12 (20)
Ethiopia	2 (3.4)	1 (1.7)
Sefaradi	12 (20)	11 (18)
Ashkenazi	2 (3)	4 (7)
Residence			0.620
Urban	56 (94)	58 (98)
Rural	3 (5)	1 (1)
Marital status			0.052
Married	36 (61)	46 (78)
Not married	23 (39)	13 (22)
Smoking			0.300
Never	32 (54)	23 (39)
Previous	15 (25)	25 (42)
Current	12 (20)	11 (18)
Alcohol			0.390
No drinking	80	83
Drinking	20	17
Red meat			0.280
None	1 (1.7)	5 (8)
< 3 times a week	54 (91)	48 (81)
> 3 times a week	4 (7)	6 (10)
Exercise			0.160
None	37 (62)	27 (45)
< 3 times a week	13 (22)	17 (29)
> 3 times a week	9 (15)	15 (25)
Education			0.820
Less than 12 yr	20 (56)	16 (44)
12 yr	18 (30)	18 (30)
More than 12 yr	21 (35)	24 (41)
Chronic disease
Diabetes	19 (32)	13 (22)	0.210
IHD	9 (15)	8 (13)	> 0.990
HTN	34 (58)	26 (44)	0.210
COPD	7 (11)	2 (3)	0.180
CRF	0 (0)	3 (5)	> 0.990
Hypothyroidism	6 (10)	6 (10)	> 0.990
Vitamin D def.	20 (34)	19 (32)	> 0.990
Medications
Aspirin	19 (32)	17 (28)	0.830
NSAIDs	1 (1.7)	1 (1.7)	> 0.990
GC	3 (5)	0 (0)	> 0.990
Opiates	2 (3)	0 (0)	> 0.990
PPI	20 (34)	16 (27)	0.540

Data are n (%). BMI: Body mass index; COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRF: Chronic renal failure; GC: Glucocorticoids; HTN: Hypertension; IHD: Ischemic heart disease; NSAIDS: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PPI: Proton pump inhibitors.