[Impact of chronic constipation on quality of life: Much more important than it seems]

Chronic constipation is highly frequent in the general population (a prevalence of 14%). An underlying organic cause is usually absent, this type of constipation being known as chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Although usually considered banal, this disorder has a substantial personal, social and healthcare impact. Several studies have associated CIC with high rates of absenteeism in the workplace and disruption of routine activities. All these factors lead to high direct and indirect healthcare expenditure. Physically, the impact on patients with CIC, who require specialized care, is higher than that of ulcerative colitis or stable Crohn's disease. The psychological impact exceeds that caused by rheumatoid arthritis or hemodialysis. Appropriate treatment can improve HRQL in affected individuals. Recently, prucalopride, a highly selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist has been shown to improve the symptoms of CIC and to have a beneficial effect on HRQL.