Epidemiology

Meckel's diverticulum is the commonest congenital malformation of the small bowel. The reported prevalence is between 0.3% and 2.9% of the general population.[1] Many people with Meckel's diverticulum remain asymptomatic throughout life; studies suggest the lifetime risk for symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum is 4.2% to 9.0%.[1][7][8]​ One nationwide study in Taiwan reported an annual incidence rate ranging from 10.4 to 18 per 100,000 person-years for symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum and 23.3 to 35.2 per 100,000 person-years for all Meckel's diverticulum.[9]

Symptomatic Meckel's diverticulum can occur at any age but is more frequently associated with a younger age. Two large series found that more than half of all children with Meckel's diverticulum who required surgery were younger than 5 years.[10][11]​​ Most patients with symptomatic or resected Meckel's diverticulum are male, but the male-to-female ratio may decrease with increasing age.[1][9]​​[12]​​​ In one large database review in the US, the male-to-female ratio among children aged 1-17 years was 3.5:1, compared with 1.6:1 among older adults aged 65-84 years.[12]​​

Meckel's diverticulum-related mortality rate in the general population is estimated to be 0.0016%, with a decreasing age-stratified mortality rate with increasing age. For patients with documented Meckel's diverticulum, Meckel-related mortality is estimated at 1%.[7]

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