Am Fam Physician. 2023;107(1):22
What lifestyle recommendations should be provided to patients to prevent diverticulitis and recurrent diverticulitis?
Consumption of popcorn, nuts, or seeds is not a risk factor for developing diverticulitis. A high-fiber diet is associated with a lower incidence of diverticular disease, but evidence about whether it prevents the recurrence of diverticulitis is lacking. Tobacco cessation, reduced meat intake, physical activity, and weight loss are recommended interventions to decrease the risk of recurrence.
Do all patients with diverticulitis require treatment with antibiotics?
No. Select patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis can be treated without antibiotics. A meta-analysis of nine randomized controlled trials with 2,505 patients showed that those treated without antibiotics had shorter hospital stays than those treated with antibiotics, and there was no difference in complication or readmission rates.
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