Meckel's diverticulum epidemiology and demographics
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sudarshana Datta, MD [2]
Overview
Meckel's diverticulum is present in approximately 2% of the population, with males more frequently experiencing symptoms.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Prevalence
- The prevalence of Meckel's diverticulum is approximately two percent of the general population.
- Complications due to Meckel's diverticulum are only seen in about 5% of affected patients.
- Increased prevalence of Meckel's diverticulum is seen in children with:
- Umbilical malformations
- Gastrointestinal tract defects
- Neurological and cardiovascular defects
- In children with Meckel's diverticulum:
- 60% of cases: symptomatic
- 40% of cases: incidental
- Most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract
- No genetic component
- Rule of 2s applies to Meckel's diverticulum:
- affects approximately 2 percent of the population
- male-to-female ratio of 2:1
- is located about two feet proximal to the ileocecal valve
- two inches in length
- mostly affects age group <2yrs
- 2 types of mucosa mostly: gastric more commonly seen than pancreatic
Age
- Patients of all age groups may develop Meckel's diverticulum.
- The incidence of Meckel's diverticulum decreases with age.
- Meckel's diverticulum commonly affects individuals younger than two years of age, with more than thirty percent of cases being younger than 1 year.
- The most common symptom in children is obstruction and lower GI bleeding, while the most common presentation in adults is obstruction.
- Common presentation in children:
- 30%: Obstruction
- 27%: Bleeding
- 19%: Intussusception
- Common presentation in the neonatal period:
- 58.3%: Bowel obstruction
- 33.3%: Pneumoperitoneum
- Common presentation in adults:
Race
- The racial predilection to Meckel's diverticulum is as follows:.
- 63.4% white
- 16.4% Hispanic
- 4.7% African-American
- 3.9% Asian
- 11.6% other
Gender
- Males are more commonly affected by Meckel's diverticulum than females. The male to female ratio is approximately 2 to 1.
- The male to female ratio for development of complications in affected cases is 3:1.