The outcomes of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients with diverticular disease: a nationwide analysis

Abstract

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections. It contributes to significant morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients in the United States. Prior studies suggest worse outcomes of CDI in patients with diverticulitis and increased risk for recurrent CDI. We conducted this study to evaluate the outcomes of CDI in patients with diverticular disease from a nationwide data sample (2012–2015).

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between January 2012 and September 2015 was queried for CDI admissions using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] codes 008.45, 562.11, 562.10, 562.12, and 562.13 for diagnoses of CDI and diverticular disease.

Results: The study included 1,327,595 patients who were admitted between 2012 and 2105 for CDI. Out of all of the patients, 84,170 (6.34%) had a concurrent diagnosis of diverticular disease. After adjusting for confounding variables, the in-hospital mortality was lower [odd ratio (OR): 0.48, 95% CI: 0.44–0.52, p < .001] for patients with diverticular disease. The length of stay (LOS) was longer [10.5 versus 9.3 days, p < .001] and mean cost of hospitalization was significantly higher in patients without a history of diverticular disease.

Discussion: In a nationwide population study, admissions with CDI, patients with a concurrent diagnosis of diverticular disease had lower in-hospital mortality. The observed results are different from prior studies and might be attributed to a higher burden of normal flora in those patients and increased use of antibiotic stewardship program across many hospitals nationwide.

Keywords:

• Diverticular disease
• Clostridioides difficile
• inhospital mortality
• health cost
• length of stay

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.