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 sev erity of diverticular disease increases with age. Elderly patients often pr esent with complicated diverticular disease, and because of their advanced age, poor ability to provide a history, and muted symptoms and signs, the d iagnosis 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 o f care for most patients; however, recent endoscopic, radiologic, and surgi cal advances have helped define more definitive therapies for patients with complicated diverticular disease.