Prevalence of colonic diverticular disease in Southern Iran

Abstract
Five hundred fifty-six Ba enema examinations performed in male and female patients (20-70+ yr old) were studied retrospectively to estimate the prevalence of colonic diverticulosis in southern Iran. The frequency of diverticulosis in all subjects > 20 yr old was 1.6%; in persons > 50 yr old, 2.4% and in persons < 50 yr old, 1.2%. This is in marked contrast to the high prevalence of the disease in Western countries, e.g., the 20% overall prevalence in the USA. The high dietary fiber intake of the Iranian people may explain the rarity of the disease in Iran.