Clinical features and related factors of severe functional constipation

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and related factors of severe functional constipation (FC) and explore the correlation between the severity of FC and colonic motility and anorectal function of patients.Methods From March 2010 to March 2012,patients with FC met Rome Ⅲ criteria were selected.A questionnaire survey was carried out and gastrointestinal transit test (GITT),anorectal manometry (ARM) and defecography were examined.The measurement data were analyzed by t test or rank sum and chi-square test was used for rate compare.Results Among 242 FC patients (male 69,female 173),179 cases (74.0％) were severe FC.The body mass index (BMI) of severe FC patients was (21.52±2.55) kg/m2,which was higher than that of non-severe FC patients ((20.72±2.46) kg/m2) and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.148,P=0.033).The rate of natural delivery in severe FC patients was 80.2％ (89/111),which was higher than that of non-severe FC patients (63.6％,21/33),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =3.860,P=0.049).There were no significant differences in GITT,ARM and defecography between severe FC patients and non-severe FC patients (all P＞0.05).The weekly frequency of defecation of patients with abnormal GITT was 1.0 (0.5,2.0),which was less than that of patients with normal GITT (1.5(0.9,2.9)),and the difference was significant (Z=-2.612,P=0.009).Conclusions Severe FC is related to BMI and natural delivery.There is no correlation between anorectal function and severity of FC.The defecation frequency is correlated with colonic transit time. Key words: Constipation; Body mass index; Natural childbirth; Colon; Defecation