Efficacy of long term cyclic administration of the poorly absorbed antibiotic Rifaximin in symptomatic, uncomplicated colonic diverticular disease

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of study patients

	Rifaximin plus fibers	Fibers	P
	(n =184)	(n =123)
Gender
Males	68 (37.0%)	50 (40.7%)	1NS
Females	116 (63.0%)	73 (59.3%)
Age (yr)	63.6 ± 11.7	60.7 ± 12.5	2NS
Site of diverticula
Left colon	47 (25.5%)	26 (21.1%)
Colon-sigma	59 (32.1%)	38 (30.9%)	3NS
Sigma	73 (39.7%)	56 (45.5%)
Sigma-rectum	5 (2.7%)	3 (2.4%)
Symptoms (%)
Lower abdominal pain	87.5%	90.2%	1NS
Bloating	85.9%	78.0%	1NS
Tenesmus	35.3%	29.3%	1NS
Diarrhoea	35.9%	32.5%	1NS
Abdominal tenderness	71.2%	69.1%	1NS
Symptoms score	6.4 ± 2.8	6.2 ± 2.6	1NS

¹χ² test with continuity correction;

²t test;

³χ² test.