Prevalence Of Self-reported Constipation Research Articles

Constipação intestinal e fatores associados em pacientes internados em um hospital universitário

Introdução: A constipação é um distúrbio no trato gastrointestinal determinado pela dificuldade e/ou rara eliminação das fezes. Sua etiologia é multifatorial e o hábito alimentar inadequado é fator de risco. Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de constipação intestinal e verificar o conhecimento sobre fibras alimentares e os hábitos de vida relacionados em pacientes com constipação e sem constipação segundo o critério Roma III. Metodologia: Estudo transversal e descritivo. Coletaram-se dados socioeconômicos, clínicos e aplicou-se um questionário sobre o consumo alimentar, hábitos de vida e conhecimento sobre prevenção e tratamento da constipação intestinal. A constipação intestinal foi definida de acordo com o consenso de ROMA III. Os resultados foram comparados pelo teste Qui-quadrado, ajustado pela correção de Bonferroni, adotando nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: A prevalência de constipação auto-referida foi de 30% e de 33% pelo critério ROMA III. O uso de recursos caseiros para constipação foi mencionado por 55,3% dos constipados e 29,2% dos não constipados. Indivíduos não constipados apresentaram maior conhecimento sobre alimentos fontes de lactobacillus. Sobre o consumo de água, 13,2% dos constipados e 31,8% dos não constipados ingerem mais que oito copos por dia (p=0,02). Quanto aos medicamentos e recursos dietéticos para o auxílio da constipação, os constipados consistem no grupo que mais os consumiu (p<0,05). Conclusão: Foram observadas diferenças entre os hábitos e o conhecimento sobre alimentação entre constipados e não constipados. Avaliar a prevalência de constipação intestinal e fatores associados é fundamental para auxiliar no tratamento e na prevenção da mesma.

Prevalence of constipation and lifestyle risk factors related to constipation in an adult population of South Tangerang

Background: Constipation is a common bowel complaint in a general population that can negatively impact a quality of life. Unhealthy lifestyles play major roles in causing the constipation. Objective: This study was aimed to estimate prevalence of the constipation and identify lifestyle risk factors related to constipation in a general adult population. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 227 adults aged =20 years, who lived in East Ciputat, South Tangerang. Information about demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and bowel habits was collected through in-person interviews. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: The prevalence of self-reported constipation in the general adult population was 21.6%. The common symptoms included defecation time =5 minutes (39.6%), sensations of incomplete evacuation (37.9%), and frequency of defecation <1/day (34.4%). Married status was related to a decreased risk of constipation (odds ratio= 0.31; 95% confidence interval= 0.11-0.89). Lifestyle factors of smoking, sedentary job, body mass index, and physical activity were less related to the risk of constipation. Conclusion: The prevalence of constipation was relatively high in the general adult population in South Tangerang. Further studies are needed to explore the relationships between lifestyle risk factors and constipation in other populations.

Laxative Use and Self-Reported Constipation in a Community-Dwelling Elderly Population: A Community-Based Survey From Australia.

The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the prevalence of laxative use and self-reported constipation and (2) identify risk factors associated with constipation in a community-dwelling elderly population. A retrospective cross-sectional survey using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing was used to explore laxative use and constipation in a cohort of community-dwelling older persons. The prevalence of laxative use was 15% and the prevalence of self-reported constipation was 21%. Females were more likely to report constipation and use laxatives. Of those using laxatives, men were more likely to have their laxatives prescribed by a doctor whereas women were more likely to self-medicate. Poor self-rated health and a higher need for assistance with activities of daily living were identified as risk factors for constipation. Constipation is a common condition affecting the community-dwelling elderly. There is a need to optimize the management of constipation and use of laxatives in such populations.

Prevalence of constipation among the general population: a community-based survey from India.

Constipation is a frequent health problem leading to great discomfort to the person and affects his or her quality of life. It is considered to be highly prevalent in the general population, but there is little data supporting the findings. This study was undertaken with an objective to assess the prevalence of constipation and its associated factors among the general population of Dadu Majra Colony, UT, Chandigarh, India. A total of 505 individuals were interviewed through structured questionnaire based on ROME II criteria for constipation. Results revealed that the prevalence of self-reported constipation within the last 1 year was 24.8% whereas 16.8% of participants had constipation according to the Rome II criteria. Most of the subjects (83%) were within the age group of 18-59 years with mean age (years) of 38.64 ± 15.57. Constipation was significantly more frequent in females than in males (20% vs. 13%) and in nonworking population than in working population (20% vs. 12%). Poor dietary habits, lesser fluid intake per day, and lesser physical activity were found to be significant factors leading to the constipation. About 18% of constipated subjects reported physicians' consultation, whereas 8% reported the use of laxatives to relieve their constipation.

Prevalence of Constipation, Bowel Habits and Nutrient Intakes of College Students in Incheon Area

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of constipation, bowel habits and nutrient intakes of college students. The subjects were 353 college students (166 males and 187 females) aged 19 to 29 years in Incheon area. The subjects were asked about bowel habits and dietary intake using questionnaires during march, 2008 and the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) was based on the Rome II criteria. The prevalence of FC in male and female students was 12.7% and 28.9%, respectively. The prevalence of self-reported constipation in male and female students was 12.0% and 36.9%, respectively. Both were higher in female students compared to male students. Among the subjects that have self-reported constipation, proportions of FC were 35.0% in male students and 55.1% in female students. Of subjects that did not self-reported constipation, the proportions of FC were 9.6% in male students and 13.6% in female students. Over 90% of respondents that self-reported constipation in male students, had neither visited a hospital and nor used laxatives or functional foods for constipation relief. Seventy five point three percent of male students, and 40.1% of female students, had a defecation frequency of over 5 times per week (p < 0.001). Ratios intaken under the estimated average requirement (EAR) of Vit A, Vit C, folic acid and Ca were over the 50% regardless of functional constipation. Mean daily consumption of total dietary fiber was 15.0 g/day in male students and 13.5 g/day in female students. According to these results, both functional constipation and self-reported constipation are more frequent in female college students and further studies are required in case-control study and related to psychological factors as well as nutrients to relieve of constipation. (Korean J Nutr 2009; 42(8): 702 ~ 713)

Constipation during pregnancy: a longitudinal survey based on self-reported symptoms and the Rome II criteria

An increase in the prevalence of constipation during pregnancy has been suggested to occur. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of constipation during pregnancy and puerperium, to investigate possible associations with eating habits and lifestyle, and to evaluate the frequency of laxative use. A structured questionnaire was developed addressing demographics, obstetric characteristics, lifestyle, eating habits, variables required for the diagnosis of constipation, and laxative use to evaluate the prevalence of constipation during pregnancy and puerperium. The questionnaire was administered in the obstetric clinic in the first trimester of pregnancy, and by telephone in the second and third trimesters, and in the puerperal period. The prevalence of self-reported constipation in these time periods was 45.4, 37.1, 39.4, and 41.8%, respectively. Prevalence defined by the Rome II criteria for the same time periods was 29.6, 19, 21.8, and 24.7%. These values were similar to the data previously reported for the female population. Agreement between the self-reported and Rome II results was moderate. The self-reported criterion showed high sensitivity in all time periods, using the Rome II criterion as gold-standard. No factor was associated with variations in the prevalence of constipation during pregnancy, though an increase was recorded in the consumption of fruit, vegetables, fiber, and water. The prevalence of constipation during pregnancy and puerperium is similar to that recorded among the female population from the same geographic area.

A Population-Based Study on Bowel Habits in a Korean Community: Prevalence of Functional Constipation and Self-Reported Constipation

Most studies of bowel habits have been conducted in Western countries. This study was conducted to estimate the epidemiology of constipation and the discrepancy between self-reported constipation and bowel habits in Koreans. Telephone interviews regarding bowel habits were conducted with a total of 1029 individuals in Korea, 15 years of age or older. Subjects were given a questionnaire which asked about bowel symptoms, sociodemographic associations, laxative use, and physician visits. Of all subjects 95.6% had a defecation frequency of between three per week and three per day. The prevalence was 16.5% for self-reported constipation, 9.2% for functional constipation (FC), and 3.9% for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). Of subjects' self-reporting constipation, proportions of FC and IBS-C were 21.8% and 23.5%, respectively. Of subjects excluding self-reported constipation, the proportion of FC was 6.8%. Prevalences of self-reported constipation and IBS-C were higher in females than in males (P < 0.001). Of subjects' self-reporting constipation, 8.2% used laxatives. We conclude that constipation is a common problem in the general Korean population.

Dietary intake in relation to self-reported constipation among Japanese women aged 18–20 years

Information on modifiable lifestyle factors associated with constipation is limited, especially among non-Western populations. We examined associations between dietary intake and self-reported constipation in young Japanese women. Cross-sectional study. A total of 1,705 female Japanese dietetic students aged 18-20 years and free of current disease and current dietary counseling. Dietary intake was estimated over a 1-month period with a validated, self-administered, diet history questionnaire, and lifestyle variables including self-reported constipation were assessed by a second questionnaire designed for this survey. A total of 436 women (26%) reported themselves to be 'constipated'. A multivariate odds ratio (OR) for women in the highest quartile of rice intake was 0.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33, 0.68) compared with the lowest. Additionally, women in the highest category of coffee intake had a multivariate OR of 0.67 (0.47, 0.94) compared with women in the lowest. Conversely, women in the highest quartile of confectionery intake had a multivariate OR of 1.54 (1.12, 2.13) compared with women in the lowest. Moreover, a multivariate OR for constipation for women in the highest quartile of Japanese and Chinese tea intake was 1.49 (1.09, 2.05) compared with women in the lowest. Neither total dietary fiber intake nor other lifestyle factors examined were associated with constipation. The consumption of rice and coffee was inversely associated with and that of confectioneries and Japanese and Chinese tea was positively associated with a prevalence of self-reported constipation.

A longitudinal survey of self-reported bowel habits in the United States.

Information concerning bowel habits was gathered from a representative sample of 14,407 United States adults in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1971-1975 and approximately 10 years later among the same individuals. The prevalence of self-reported constipation, diarrhea, infrequent defecation (three or fewer bowel movements per week), and frequent defecation (two or more bowel movements per day) increased with aging. Women were more likely than men (P less than 0.05) to report constipation (20.8% compared to 8.0%) and infrequent defecation (9.1% compared to 3.2%). Blacks were more likely than whites to report infrequent defecation (P less than 0.05). Older respondents reporting constipation were more likely to use laxatives or stool softeners than younger respondents reporting constipation, but they were also less likely to have infrequent defecation. To evaluate factors predictive of impaired bowel function, case definitions were created using information concerning complaint of constipation, laxative use, frequency of defecation, and stool consistency. Female gender, black race, fewer years of education, low physical activity, and symptoms of depression were independent risk factors for impaired bowel function. This study provides national estimates of bowel complaints and their natural history and examines possible risk factors for constipation.

Constipation in the Elderly Living at Home

The prevalence of self-reported constipation and the factors which contribute to it were investigated in a door-to-door survey of 209 people aged 65 to 93. Thirty percent of men and 29% of women described themselves as constipated at least once a month. However, elderly people define constipation differently than do their physicians: only 3% of men and 2% of women in the community sample reported that their average stool frequency was less than three per week, the customary medical criterion for constipation. The primary symptom which elderly people used to define constipation was having to strain in order to defecate. Multiple factors were found to influence self-reports of constipation. The amount of liquids consumed was significantly related to longest period without a bowel movement in men, but fiber and liquids were not related to self-reported constipation in either sex. The number of chronic illnesses and the number of nonlaxative medications were significantly related to constipation in women but not men, and the number of psychological symptoms correlated significantly with self-reports of constipation in both men and women. Age was not significantly related to self-reported constipation in men or women over the age of 65.