Constipation and GI diagnoses in children with solid tumours: prevalence and management

Despite continued development of targeted therapies for children with cancer, patients continue to experience an array of unwanted side effects. Children with solid tumours may experience constipation as a result of vinca alkaloid therapy, psychological stressors, periods of inactivity and opioid use. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence and treatment of constipation in hospitalised children with solid tumours treated with chemotherapy.

We retrospectively analysed data from 48 children's hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System, extracting patients 0-21 years of age with a solid tumour diagnosis hospitalised from October 2015 through December 2019.

We identified 13 375 unique patients with a solid tumour diagnosis receiving chemotherapy. Constipation was the most common gastrointestinal complaint with 8658 (64.7%; 95% Cl: 63.9% to 65.5%) having a constipation diagnosis or having received at least two laxatives during admission. Bone cancers had the highest percentage (69.9%) of patients with constipation, while Hodgkin's lymphoma had the lowest, although 52.1% of patients were affected. A total of 44% (n=35 301) of encounters received an opioid at some point during admission. Of patients receiving constipation medications, the most commonly prescribed was polyethyl glycol (n=25 175, 31.7%), followed by docusate (n=11 297, 14.2%), senna (n=10 325, 13.0%) and lactulose (n=5501, 6.9%).

Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal issue that children with solid tumours experience while receiving chemotherapy in the inpatient setting. Increased attention should be given to constipation prophylaxis and treatment in children with solid tumours undergoing chemotherapy, particularly those identified as high risk.