Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
03:50
Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 18, 2023
Constipation in community-dwelling elders: prevalence and associated factors
1Department of Nursing, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. hjsong@jejunu.ac.kr
Summary
Constipation affects over a quarter of community-dwelling elders, with common symptoms including hard stools and straining. Associated factors identified were lower urinary tract symptoms and obesity.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal issue in older adults.
- Understanding the prevalence and associated factors in community-dwelling elders is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of constipation among community-dwelling elderly individuals.
- To identify factors associated with constipation in this population.
Main Methods:
- A community-based, cross-sectional study involving 186 elders from senior centers.
- Data collected via structured interviews, including demographics, health behaviors, and lower urinary tract symptoms.
- Constipation diagnosed using Rome II criteria; logistic regression analyzed associated factors.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of constipation was 25.8% in the study sample.
- Most frequent symptoms reported were hard/lumpy stools (30.8%) and straining (27.1%).
- Constipation was significantly associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (OR=1.1) and obesity (OR=2.4).
Conclusions:
- Approximately 25.8% of community-dwelling elders experience constipation.
- Lower urinary tract symptoms and obesity are key associated factors.
- Findings highlight the need for screening and management of constipation in elderly populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota
The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
01:25Assessment of the Rectum and Anus
Evaluating the rectum and anus plays a crucial role in conducting a thorough physical examination of the gastrointestinal system. Although it may be uncomfortable and often embarrassing for the patient, it holds immense diagnostic value, particularly in detecting gastrointestinal diseases and abnormalities. This guide will explain how to perform this assessment using inspection and palpation methods.
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are not...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...