BACKGROUND
Chronic constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. It has negative effects
on the patients’ quality of life, and their productivity, and results in a high economic burden on
the healthcare services. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic
constipation and its associated factors in pars cohort study (PCS).
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on the baseline data of the PCS. Data gathering was done
by structured questionnaire and physical examination. A total of 9264 subjects aged between 40
and 75 years were enrolled in the PCS. Diagnosis of chronic constipation was done using Rome IV
criteria. Multivariable binary logistic regression was applied for data analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 752 (8.1%) participants were diagnosed as having chronic constipation (9.3% of
female and 6.7% of male participants). Older age (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.31-1.83), physical activity
(OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.46-0.68), opium consumption (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.63-2.60) , anxiety (OR:
1.38, 95% CI: 1.15-1.65), depression (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.48), back pain or arthralgia (OR:
1.38, 95% CI: 1.14-1.67), insomnia (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.36-1.93) and gastroesophageal reflux
disease (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.28-1.78) were associated with the prevalence of constipation in the
multivariable analysis.
CONCLUSION
Chronic constipation was a common problem in the PCS population. Decreasing modifiable risk
factors associated with constipation such as opium consumption and physical inactivity can reduce
its prevalence and decrease burden of the disease.
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