Topic
Constipation
About: Constipation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 8443 publications have been published within this topic receiving 191918 citations. The topic is also known as: Colonic Inertia & Constipation.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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Papers
TL;DR: The proposed constipation scoring system correlated well with objective physiologic findings in constipated patients to allow uniformity in assessment of the severity of constipation.
Abstract: PURPOSE: Constipation is a common complaint; however, clinical presentation varies with each individual. The aim of this study was to assess a standard scoring system for evaluation of constipated patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients with idiopathic constipation who were referred for anorectal physiologic testing were assessed. A subjective constipation score was calculated based on a detailed questionnaire that included over 100 constipation-related symptoms. Based on the questionnaire, scores ranged from 0 to 30, with 0 indicating normal and 30 indicating severe constipation. The constipation score was then compared with the objective findings of the physiology tests, which include colonic transit time (CTT), anal manometry (AM), cinedefecography (CD), and electromyography (EMG). Colonic inertia was defined as diffuse marker delay on CTT without evidence of paradoxical contraction on AM, CD, or EMG. Pelvic outlet obstruction was defined as paradoxical puborectalis contraction, rectal prolapse or rectoanal intussusception, rectocele, or sigmoidocele. RESULTS: A total of 232 patients (185 females and 47 males) of a mean age of 64.9 (range, 14–92) years were evaluated. All patients had a score of more than 15; on evaluation of the significance of different symptoms in the constipation score with the Pearson's linear correlation test, 8 of 18 factors were identified as significant (P<0.05). These factors included frequency of bowel movements, painful evacuation, incomplete evacuation, abdominal pain, length of time per attempt, assistance for evacuation, unsuccessful attempts for evacuation per 24 hours, and duration of constipation. All 232 patients had objective obstruction attributable to one or more of the following causes: paradoxical puborectalis contraction (81), significant rectocele or sigmoidocele (48), rectoanal intussusception (64), and rectal prolapse (9). CONCLUSION: The proposed constipation scoring system correlated well with objective physiologic findings in constipated patients to allow uniformity in assessment of the severity of constipation.
1,186 citations
TL;DR: Among patients who had IBS without constipation, treatment with rifaximin for 2 weeks provided significant relief of IBS symptoms, bloating, abdominal pain, and loose or watery stools.
Abstract: Background Evidence suggests that gut flora may play an important role in the pathophysiology of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We evaluated rifaximin, a minimally absorbed antibiotic, as treatment for IBS. Methods In two identically designed, phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (TARGET 1 and TARGET 2), patients who had IBS without constipation were randomly assigned to either rifaximin at a dose of 550 mg or placebo, three times daily for 2 weeks, and were followed for an additional 10 weeks. The primary end point, the proportion of patients who had adequate relief of global IBS symptoms, and the key secondary end point, the proportion of patients who had adequate relief of IBS-related bloating, were assessed weekly. Adequate relief was defined as self-reported relief of symptoms for at least 2 of the first 4 weeks after treatment. Other secondary end points included the percentage of patients who had a response to treatment as assessed by daily self-ratings of global IBS symptoms and i...
983 citations
TL;DR: Infrequent bowel movements are associated with an elevated risk of future PD, and further study is needed to determine whether constipation is part of early PD processes or is a marker of susceptibility or environmental factors that may cause PD.
Abstract: Background: Constipation is frequent in PD, although its onset in relation to clinical PD has not been well described. Demonstration that constipation can precede clinical PD could provide important clues to understanding disease progression and etiology. The purpose of this report is to examine the association between the frequency of bowel movements and the future risk of PD. Methods: Information on the frequency of bowel movements was collected from 1971 to 1974 in 6790 men aged 51 to 75 years without PD in the Honolulu Heart Program. Follow-up for incident PD occurred over a 24-year period. Results: Ninety-six men developed PD an average of 12 years into follow-up. Age-adjusted incidence declined consistently from 18.9/10,000 person-years in men with 2/day ( p = 0.005). After adjustment for age, pack-years of cigarette smoking, coffee consumption, laxative use, jogging, and the intake of fruits, vegetables, and grains, men with p = 0.007). The risk of PD in men with p = 0.001) and to a 4.5-fold excess versus men with >2/day (95% CI: 1.2, 16.9; p = 0.025). Conclusions: Findings indicate that infrequent bowel movements are associated with an elevated risk of future PD. Further study is needed to determine whether constipation is part of early PD processes or is a marker of susceptibility or environmental factors that may cause PD.
871 citations
TL;DR: Colonic hyperalgesia of this kind, possibly a random occurrence, may be an important contributory factor in the aetiology of the irritable colon syndrome.
Abstract: The effects of inflating a balloon introduced through a sigmoidoscope to 35 cm in the pelvic colon have been observed and compared in 67 patients with the irritable colon syndrome and in 16 normal and constipated subjects acting as controls. Inflation to 60 ml caused pain in 6% of the controls at a mean diameter of 3·8 cm and in 55% of patients with the irritable colon syndrome (diameter 3·4 cm). An estimate of gut wall tension at this volume of inflation showed it to be normal in patients with the irritable colon syndrome; the incidence of pain in relation to wall tension was increased nearly tenfold in the irritable colon group. Inflation of the balloon to different volumes was normally painless to a maximum acceptable diameter which remained constant for each study under constant conditions; continued inflation eventually gave rise to pain without increasing the diameter. The pain was felt in the hypogastrium in 40%, in one or both iliac fossae in 31%, and in the rectum in 21%; the other 8% felt pain in the back or elsewhere and there were no significant differences between clinical groups. Exceptionally, in 6% of the controls, and in 52% of patients with the irritable colon syndrome, pain occurred at balloon diameters that could still be increased by 10% or more with further inflation. This was probably the outcome of a low threshold for visceral pain in the section of bowel in contact with the balloon. Colonic hyperalgesia of this kind, possibly a random occurrence, may be an important contributory factor in the aetiology of the irritable colon syndrome.
864 citations
TL;DR: The epidemiology of constipation in children was investigated in 19 articles and prevalence rate was between 0.7% and 29.6% (median 12%).
Abstract: We aimed to review the published literature regarding the epidemiology of constipation in the general paediatric and adult population and to assess its geographic, gender and age distribution, and associated factors. A search of the Medline database was performed. Study selection criteria included: (1) studies of population-based samples; (2) containing data on the prevalence of constipation without obvious organic aetiology; (3) in paediatric, adult or elderly population; (4) published in English and full manuscript form. Sixty-eight studies met our inclusion criteria. The prevalence of constipation in the worldwide general population ranged from 0.7% to 79% (median 16%). The epidemiology of constipation in children was investigated in 19 articles and prevalence rate was between 0.7% and 29.6% (median 12%). Female gender, increasing age, socioeconomic status and educational level seemed to affect constipation prevalence.
860 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 |
| 2025 | 403 |
| 2024 | 751 |
| 2023 | 1,011 |
| 2022 | 1,646 |
| 2021 | 464 |