Abstract
Achieving optimal outcomes is a universal goal among health care providers. However,
disagreement often arises when selecting and measuring endpoints as markers of care
performance. In diverticulitis, this task is complicated by variability in clinical
presentation and existence of multiple evidence-based therapeutic options. The aim
of this review is to summarize trends and challenges in outcomes measurement for diverticulitis.
We discuss historical origins and compare existing frameworks for classifying outcomes.
Next, focus is directed to an exploration of important outcomes through clinical controversies:
antibiotics for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis, colectomy with primary anastomosis
for acute complicated diverticulitis, and elective colectomy for recurrent diverticulitis.
Finally, we review recommendations supporting case-by-case decision-making and implications
for clinicians, in addition to ongoing international efforts to standardize outcomes
that matter for common diseases.
Keywords
diverticulitis - outcomes measurement - shared decision-making - patient-reported
outcome measures
