Epidemiology of constipation in São Paulo, Brazil: a population-based study.
Curr Med Res Opin
; 31(1): 57-64, 2015 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25295483
OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic data on constipation in South America are limited. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of constipation in Brazil. METHODS: Telephone and personal surveys were conducted among community-dwelling adults in homes with land-based telephones in São Paulo. Data were weighted by numbers of adults, total residents, and telephones in each household. To account for potential nonresponse and noncoverage bias, results were further adjusted according to Brazilian census data. RESULTS: Among 4570 households contacted, 3050 adults (66.7%) participated. Respondents (mean [SE] age: 42.6 [2.7] years) were primarily women (53.1%). A minority of all respondents reported symptoms consistent with constipation, including a perception of incomplete voiding in 8.0%; expending efforts to defecate in 7.6%; ≤2 stools weekly in 9.0%; and hard stools in 12.7%. Prevalences of these symptoms and efforts to manage them were more frequent in women (P ≤ 0.004), but most were not significantly associated with advancing age. With increasing age, proportions of respondents with ≤2 stools per week declined (P = 0.001), whereas use of bowel enemas (P = 0.026) and digital maneuvers to disimpact stool increased (P < 0.001). Despite frequent constipation symptoms, the vast majority of respondents did not report using prescription medications, but some used natural remedies (29.5%) and/or laxatives (13.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of constipation are prevalent in São Paulo, particularly among women. On the other hand, most survey respondents did not use medications or other remedies that manage this condition. These findings may point to an unmet gastrointestinal treatment need. Future research is needed to corroborate our findings in rural settings and to further evaluate potential predictors and consequences of constipation in South America.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Constipação Intestinal
Tipo de estudo:
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
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Screening_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Curr Med Res Opin
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil
País de publicação:
Reino Unido