Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diverticular disease (DD) is a common gastrointestinal condition in the United States (US) associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges that might exacerbate DD-related outcomes. This study analyzed the trends in all-cause, digestive system (DGS), and cardiovascular system (CVS) mortality associated with DD from 1999-2020, focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) and disparities across demographics and geography. METHODS: Data from adults aged ≥25 years were extracted from the Centers for Disease Control WONDER database. AAMRs per 100,000 people were standardized using the 2000 US census. AAMRs were assessed from 1999-2020 for context, while the primary comparative analysis focused on the pre-COVID-19 (2016-2019) and post-COVID-19 (2019-2022) periods using linear regression models. AAMRs were stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity and geographic region. Note: 2021-2022 trends were extrapolated, as finalized mortality records were not available at the time of analysis. RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2020, 115,009 DD-related deaths occurred (AAMR 2.4/100,000), including 70,648 DGS-related deaths (AAMR 1.5) and 17,405 CVS-related deaths (AAMR 0.4). Females (AAMR 2.6), elderly individuals (AAMR 11.1), and non-Hispanic whites (AAMR 2.5) had the highest mortality rates. Post-COVID-19, AAMRs increased from 1.8 to 2.0, with significant increases among rural populations. DGS-related deaths were most prevalent, particularly in non-metropolitan areas. CONCLUSIONS: DD-related mortality has increased in the post-COVID-19 period, especially in vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, rural residents and females. These findings highlight the need for equitable healthcare interventions and the continued monitoring of pandemic-era health disparities.