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Related Experiment Videos

Laxative use in the community-dwelling elderly.

Christine M Ruby1, Gerda G Fillenbaum, Maragatha N Kuchibhatla

  • 1Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
|November 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Laxative use is common in older adults, with 10.2% using them. Factors like being female and having more doctor visits increase likelihood of laxative use in the elderly.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Epidemiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Constipation is a prevalent and serious issue among the elderly population.
  • Laxatives are frequently prescribed for managing constipation in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of laxative use in community-dwelling elderly individuals.
  • To identify factors associated with laxative consumption among elderly Black and White populations.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 4136 participants from the Duke University Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly.
  • Data collected included demographics, health status, healthcare utilization, and medication use (prescription and OTC).
  • Specific laxative types examined were bulking, hyperosmotic, lubricant, stimulant, stool softener, saline, and miscellaneous agents.

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Main Results:

  • 10.2% of elderly participants reported using at least one laxative.
  • Stimulant and bulking laxatives were the most frequently used types.
  • Laxative use was significantly associated with female gender, higher physician visit frequency, mobility limitations (inability to walk 0.5 miles), and use of multiple OTC non-laxative medications.

Conclusions:

  • Laxative use is common in community-dwelling elderly individuals.
  • Sociodemographic factors, health status, and healthcare access are linked to laxative use.
  • Further research is recommended to investigate the impact of laxative use on bowel function and quality of life in the elderly.