Diverticular Disease Linked to Increased Risk of Several Cancers

People with diverticular disease were found to have an increased risk of lung, prostate, breast, haematological, colorectal, stomach, liver and pancreatic cancers.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute published a health-database review study on 6 October 2022 suggesting that patients with diverticular disease are more likely to develop several cancers than the general population.

The researchers conducted a study based on Swedish health records of 76 thousand patients diagnosed with diverticular disease and colorectal cancer. They also evaluated data from 313 thousand matched individuals in the general population and 61 thousand siblings of patients with diverticular disease.

During a median follow-up of 6 years, the incidence of any cancer was higher in the diverticular disease group than in the general population:

• 24.5 cancers per 1000 person-years among people with diverticular disease, and
• 18.1 cancers per 1000 person-years in the general population. 

In a multivariable analysis, patients with diverticular disease had, compared with the general population, a 33% increase in cancer risk.

Cancer risk was highest in the first year of follow-up: 2.27-fold. However, the risk remained significantly higher after 5 years, at 18% higher. The increase was similar in women and men.

Patients with diverticular disease had an increased risk of several types of cancer, including:

• A 33% increase in risk for all solid tumours (cancers originating in organs)
• Haematological cancers 34%
• Liver cancer 72%
• Pancreatic cancer 62%
• Lung cancer 50%
• Colon and rectal cancer 42%
• Lymphomas 24%
• Stomach cancer 18%
• Breast cancer 17%
• Prostate cancer 13%

Patients with diverticular disease also had an increased cancer risk when compared with their siblings without diverticular disease. Cancer incidence per 1000 person-years was 19.2 in the diverticular disease group and 14.4 in the sibling group, corresponding to a 26% increase in risk.

In conclusion, patients with diverticular disease who have colon and rectal cancer have a higher overall cancer risk. Given the prevalence of diverticular disease in the general population, these findings highlight the need for awareness and preventive strategies, such as lifestyle changes addressing cancer risk, among people with diverticular disease.