Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41211071›Full record

ArticleGastroenterology research2025

Characterizing Patterns of Care for Diverticulitis Within the Contemporary Health System.

Hyung C Kim, Vikram Anand, Jennifer A Kaplan, Ravi Moonka, Vlad V Simianu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gastroenterology research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Hyung C KimDepartment of General Surgery, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Vikram AnandDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Jennifer A KaplanDepartment of General Surgery, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Ravi MoonkaDepartment of General Surgery, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Vlad V SimianuDepartment of General Surgery, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Diverticulitis is a common colon pathology that contributes a significant healthcare burden due to hospitalizations, colonoscopies, and operations. Although recent clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) advocate for less frequent and selective use of antibiotics, colonoscopies, admissions, and operations, rates of admissions and elective operations for diverticulitis have paradoxically increased over time. Understanding where patients seek care for diverticulitis can identify areas where CPGs are or are not being followed. This study aimed to describe care settings, treating providers, and characterize treatment patterns for diverticulitis. Methods: This prospective cohort study included patients with diverticulitis diagnosed via computed tomography (CT) scan at a single institution between 2019 and 2020. The CT scan setting (outpatient, emergency department, or inpatient), main treating provider specialty (medicine, surgery, gastroenterology, or emergency medicine), and clinical characteristics were identified. For each patient, antibiotic prescription, screening colonoscopy within a year of diagnosis, and surgical referrals were characterized. Results: A total of 310 patients (mean age 62, 60.3% female) were included, with 71.3% being new diagnoses of diverticulitis. Eighteen percent of diagnoses were complicated diverticulitis. Most diagnoses occurred in the outpatient setting (60%), followed by the emergency department (36.5%), then inpatient (3.5%). Complicated diverticulitis cases more frequently presented to the emergency department than outpatient (25% vs. 12.9%, P = 0.002). Antibiotics were prescribed in 91% of cases, with the highest rate in the emergency department (96.5%) compared to outpatient (87.6%) or inpatient (90.9%, P = 0.036). Colonoscopy was up to date in 45.1% of uncomplicated and 54.4% of complicated cases (P = 0.137). Surgical referrals occurred in 38.7% of patients, with higher rates for complicated diverticulitis (84.2% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Most episodes of diverticulitis are uncomplicated and occur in the outpatient setting. However, care remains fragmented across multiple specialties, making it challenging to measure the appropriate delivery of CPG-concordant care for diverticulitis. The variation in management of diverticulitis highlights the need for a more coordinated, system-level approach to enable high-quality care delivery.

Indexed as

AntibioticsClinical practice guidelineColonoscopyColorectal surgeryDiverticulitisGastroenterology

Identifiers

PMID41211071
PMCPMC12591222

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.