Constipation in patients with motor neuron disease: A retrospective longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Constipation is an emerging complication in motor neuron disease (MND), linked to motor and autonomic dysfunction.
• Long-term constipation characteristics in MND patients are not well understood.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a primary example of MND.

Purpose of the Study:

• To longitudinally investigate the prevalence of constipation in a cohort of MND patients.
• To identify risk factors associated with constipation in individuals with MND.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of Japanese MND patients from a single-center registry (June 2017-December 2021).
• ALS diagnosis based on updated Awaji criteria; other MND subtypes included.
• Constipation assessed using Rome III criteria; clinical data compared between groups.

Main Results:

• 30.3% of 155 patients had constipation at diagnosis, rising to 52.9% after 18 months.
• Constipation group showed higher rates of female sex, tracheostomy, invasive ventilation, and enteral nutrition.
• Lower Revised ALS Functional Rating Scale scores, particularly motor function, were noted in the constipation group.
• Enteral nutrition was an independent risk factor for constipation (OR 3.69, p=0.005).

Conclusions:

• Constipation is highly prevalent in MND patients with motor impairment.
• Effective management of defecation is crucial for MND patients, especially those receiving enteral nutrition.