Bowel Frequency and Symptoms of Constipation and Its Relation With the Level of Physical Activity in Patients With Chagas Disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intestinal constipation (IC) in patients with the digestive form of Chagas disease is one of the main reasons for seeking medical care. Population data indicate that the practice of physical activity improves gastrointestinal motility. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the bowel frequency and symptoms of constipation and their relationship with the level of physical activity in patients with and without Chagas disease. METHODS: Patients (n=120) of both genres, aged between 35 and 84 years, in which 50% (n=60) were in the Chagas group and 50% (n=60) were in the control group, were evaluated regarding the level of IC using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) and regarding the level of physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS - Patients in the Chagas group classified as active (IPAQ 2) had higher proportion (P=0.0235) of moderate IC with severe abdominal distension (P=0.0159) and decreased evacuation frequency (P=0.0281) than the patients in the control group, considered to be very active (IPAQ 1). The sedentary lifestyle was greater (P=0.0051) in the Chagas group with duration, intensity and frequency of physical activity lower than the control group. The health perception in the Chagas group was regular for 46.7% (P=0.0035) and poor for 8.3% (P=0.0244). CONCLUSION: There is a lower risk of developing intestinal constipation in more active individuals, evidencing that the level of physical activity interferes with bowel frequency and symptoms of constipation in patients with and without Chagas disease. The level of physical activity and health perception were worse in the Chagas group, reinforcing the disease stigma, which should be modified by the training of health professionals who routinely attend these patients.