Difference in Defecation Desire Between Patients With and Without Chronic Constipation: A Large-Scale Internet Survey

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Physiology

Background:

• Defecation desire (DD) is a key physiological aspect of normal bowel movements.
• Limited data exists on DD prevalence in the general population and individuals with chronic constipation (CC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of DD in the general Japanese population and CC patients.
• To evaluate the impact of CC treatments on DD.
• To understand the relationship between DD and treatment satisfaction in CC.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire survey was conducted in Japan (2019).
• Participants were categorized into CC and non-CC groups based on Rome IV criteria.
• Loss of DD (LODD) was defined as reporting DD as 'rarely' or 'never'.

Main Results:

• 12.3% of participants had CC.
• LODD was significantly more prevalent in CC individuals (57.4%) compared to controls (8.3%).
• Treatment satisfaction was lower for those with persistent LODD (25.9%) versus improved LODD (56.5%).

Conclusions:

• Loss of DD is highly prevalent in chronic constipation.
• LODD is associated with reduced treatment satisfaction in CC patients.
• Clinicians should prioritize assessing and managing DD in CC treatment plans.