| Background Chronic constipation(CC) is an important component of clinical gastroenterology practice worldwide. Many studies confirmed that the prevalence of CC increased with age. With the population aging, the number of old patients with CC will be huge, as well as the associated impact on quality of life and socioeconomic burden. Because most of patients have many comorbidities, defecation would induce or aggravate the comorbidities, and then threaten people’s lives, its potential hazards are huge, especially for elderly patients with hypertension, heart disease, stroke and other cardivascular diseases. Besides, there have a close correlation between CC and mental illness, such as anxienty, depression. However, the attention people pay is limited, only less than 5% of patients reported a physician visit. Abuse of laxtive and the lack of standardized sense of diaginosis and treatment could lead to intractable constipation. Be short of demographics of community residents, epidemiology characteristics and risk factors of CC. Basic medica linstitutions can not make correct and timely prevention and management of high risk group and constipation population. Therefore,it is necessary to investigate the epidemiology characteristics and risk factors of CC for elderly people, enhance propaganda education work of health knowledge related to CC. After that, we can provide timely and correct diagnosis and treatment and give guidance on selfmanagement. ObjectiveIn this study, we will try to understand the epidemiology and risk factors related to CC, analysize the symptom and the effective way to alleviate CC, discuss the relationship between CC and cardiovascular diseases, as well as durgs through investigating subjects in Yuetan community of Beijing. Methods 1. A cross-sectional study was performed. The participants were enrolled in our study by simple random sampling method. Take action to inform and develop awareness among the residents, investigate the participants who satisfied the inclusion criteria. 2. The investigation was conducted by trained interviewers, using a structured questionnaire format. The investigation mainly includes general information, history of dieases and medicine, diet lifestyle and constipation-related condition. 3. The data collected from the survey were statistically analyzed. then summarize the of the study population, discuss the characteristics and risk factors of CC, and describe symptoms of CC and the approaches to managing CC. Results 1. Among 210 people participated, 200 adults(95.0%) completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the study population was 74.74(8.72) years. Respondents were primarily women(54.0%), aged 75.61(9.7) years. 46.0% of subjects were men, aged 73.72(8.67) years. 2. Of the study population, 82 subjects met the Rome III criteria(41.0%). Among respondents with CC, 52 cases were women, accounting for 48.1%, the F/M ratios was 1.47 to 1. However, our study showed no significant relationship between gender and CC. Our findings indicated that individuals aged 70-79 years are significantly less likely to have CC than those aged 60-69 years. While, there was no significant difference between 60-69 age group and after 80 years. 3. Among 82 respondents with CC, the comorbidities with diabetes, hypertension,heart diseases, cranial vascular diseases were 67.1%(55/82), 81.7%(67/92), 35.4%(29/82), 39%(32/82). While, of the subjects without CC, the comorbidities were 42.4%(50/118), 83.9%(99/118), 22.9%(27/118), 27.1%(32/118) respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of CC patients using diuretics, calcium antagonist, NSAIDs, lipid-lowering drugs, iron or calcium supplements was 8.5%(7/82), 53.7%(44/82), 43.9%(36/82), 57.3%(47/82), 15.9%(13/82) respectively. The percentage of patients without CC using diuretics, calcium antagonist, NSAIDs, lipid-lowering drugs, iron or calcium supplements was 7.6(9/118), 56.8%(67/118), 42.4%(50/118), 63.6%(75/118), 11.9%(14/118) respectively. The findings confirmed that diabetes can significantly increase the risk of CC, and that there is no relationship between CC and other diseases or drugs. 4. Of study respondents, 49.0% reported that they had normal nutrition. A total of 36.5% of subjects were overweight, 14.5% obese. The data suggested that the risk of CC for people with overweight and obese is significantly higher than normal nutrition. There was a trend towards increased and that obese seems to lower the risk of CC. No significant association was found between CC and educational level, living conditions, sleep quality, medication history, smoking status or alcohol consumption. 5. A total of 93.9%(77/82) of constipated patients reported that they have difficult defecation. The proportions of other symptoms they reported that: pass very hard stools was 87.8%(72/82), infrequent bowel movements(<3 per week) was 51.2%(42/82), a sensation of incomplete evacuation was 40.2%(33/82), a sensation that the stool cannot be passed was 13.4%(11/82), manual manoeuvres to defecation was 28.0%(23/82). There was no significantly different between gender and the symptoms, except difficult defecation, men can increase the risk of difficult defecation. 6. Our findings indicated that 53.7%(44/82) of constipated patients are moderate constipation. While the proportions of mild and severe constipation were 25.6%(21/82), 20.7%(17/82) respectively. A total of 67.1%(55/82) of constipated patients reported that they used laxatives to manage constipation, but our study showed no significant relationship between gender and laxatives. Conclusions 1. Our study showed that 41.0% of respondents meet the Rome III diagnostic criteria. Our findings indicated that diabetes, overweight and obesity are the risk factors of CC. 2. Our data showed no significant relationship between educational level, marital status, living conditions, sleep quality, medication history, smoking status or alcohol consumption. 3. The most common symptoms of CC were hard stool and difficult defecation. Difficult defecation is more common in men than in women. There was no significantly different between gender and other symptoms. 4. In the constipation degree, moderate constipation is more common. Mild and severe constipation have the similar proportions. A majority of constipated patients use laxatives to manage CC, but our study showed no significant relationship between gender and laxatives. |
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