Variation in the incidence of diverticular disease within the city of Edinburgh.

An estimate of the incidence of diverticular disease of the colon was based on all the barium enema examinations in Edinburgh over four years (12 335 cases); using the census data for 1971, incidence rates for the city by age, sex, and electoral ward were calculated. The overall annual incidence rate was 1-55/1000, the rate rising sharply with increasing age. The incidence of diverticular disease varies from ward to ward (range 0-92-2-04/1000), adjacent wards have similar incidence rates and the six wards with the lowest rates are clustered together in the South East of the city. Ward incidence rates have a significant negative association with the percentage of owner occupiers living in that area.