Abstract
Background and AimsFunctional constipation is very common with heterogeneous symptoms that have substantial impact on patient quality of life as well as medical resources which are rarely reported as life-threatening. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence and symptoms characteristic of functional constipation (FC) by using Rome III diagnostic criteria among tertiary education students with an intention to introduce treatment in the future.MethodsDemographic, socio-economics characteristics and symptoms of FC using the Rome III criteria were sought using a questionnaire administered to Malaysian students in a tertiary education setting. Other data obtained were the general health status, lifestyle factors and anthropometric measurements. Using a simple random sampling method, a total of 1662 students were recruited in the study with a response rate of 95.0%. Sampled data are presented as frequency and percentage and stratified accordingly into categories for Chi-square analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of functional constipation among the students was 16.2%, with a significantly higher prevalence among women (17.4%) than men (12.5%). Hard or lumpy stool, incomplete evacuation, anorectal obstruction and straining were reported as the commonest symptoms experienced. Type 3 was the most frequent stool consistency experienced among the constipated individuals (35.2%). Only 4.4% of individuals reported having less than three defecations per week. Using univariable analysis, FC was significantly associated with sex (odds ratio: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.06–2.06) and age group (odds ratio: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01–1.79) with P value < 0.05 significance level. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only sex was found significantly associated with FC (adjusted odds ratio: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.08–2.17, P < 0.05).ConclusionsBased on the prevalence rate, constipation is a common problem among tertiary education students (16.2%), with significantly more prevalence among the female respondents. Early detection of symptoms and further intervention studies focusing on treatment recommendation in improving the symptoms are essential.
Highlights
Functional constipation (FC) is one of the commonest functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in the community
4.4% of individuals reported having less than three defecations per week
FC was significantly associated with sex and age group with P value < 0.05 significance level
Summary
Functional constipation (FC) is one of the commonest functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in the community. It is a worldwide chronic problem with aggravating symptoms but not life-threatening. The physicians regularly defined constipation as an unsatisfying defecations with reduced stool frequency whereas the patients will define their constipation condition based on symptoms such as straining, hard stool, difficulty in defecations and so forth [3,4,5]. According to Rome III diagnostic criteria for functional constipation, symptoms characteristics were based on abnormal stool type and stool frequency, presence of straining, sensation of incomplete evacuation, anorectal obstruction or blockage and manual maneuvers with occurring at least 25% of defecations. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence and symptoms characteristic of functional constipation (FC) by using Rome III diagnostic criteria among tertiary education students with an intention to introduce treatment in the future
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