Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2025
Murine Fecal Isolation and Microbiota Transplantation
Published on: May 26, 2023
Exploring the association between cardiovascular health and bowel health
Ziqing Yu1, Mingyue Guo1, Xiaoyin Bai1
1Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Insights
Maintaining cardiovascular health (CVH) is linked to better bowel health, reducing risks of constipation, diarrhea, and incontinence. Improved CVH and healthy behaviors also lower mortality rates in individuals with bowel issues.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Chronic constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence significantly impact quality of life and incur substantial socioeconomic costs.
- Cardiovascular health (CVH) is a critical determinant of overall well-being, but its association with bowel health remains underexplored.
- The Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metric provides a comprehensive assessment of CVH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and the prevalence of chronic constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence.
- To determine the impact of health behaviors and health factors on bowel health outcomes.
- To explore the relationship between CVH, health behaviors, and all-cause mortality in individuals with bowel disorders.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005-2010.
- Assessed CVH using the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) criteria.
- Defined and assessed chronic constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, bowel movement frequency, and bowel leakage reports.
Main Results:
- Better health behaviors and health factors were associated with reduced chronic constipation.
- Improved CVH and health factors correlated with a lower incidence of chronic diarrhea, particularly when health behavior scores exceeded 59.42.
- Better health behaviors were linked to lower rates of fecal incontinence and all-cause mortality across all bowel health conditions.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining optimal cardiovascular health is crucial for promoting intestinal health and can aid in the management of bowel disorders.
- Interventions promoting healthy behaviors and improving CVH may offer a dual benefit for both cardiovascular and gastrointestinal well-being.
- Further prospective research is warranted to validate these findings and establish causality.
Abstract:
Chronic constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence have high incidence, potential disability, and socioeconomic impact, imposing a heavy burden on the quality of life. We aim to explore the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and bowel health from National Health and Nutrition Survey 2005-2010. CVH is assessed using Life's Essential 8 (LE8). Chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, and fecal incontinence are assessed based on Bristol Stool Form Scale classification, bowel movements, and bowel leakage. Better health behaviors (odds ratio [OR]: 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-0.94, p = 0.02) and worse health factors (OR: 1.45, CI 1.03-2.04, p = 0.04) were associated with less chronic constipation. Less chronic diarrhea is correlated with better CVH (OR: 0.53, 95% CI 0.35-0.79, p = 0.003) and health factors (OR: 0.61, CI 0.46-0.81, p = 0.001). Meanwhile, the proportion of chronic diarrhea significantly decreases when the health behaviors score exceeds 59.42. Lower fecal incontinence was associated with better health behaviors (OR: 0.63, CI 0.44-0.90, p = 0.01) CVH. Better CVH and health behaviors are both linked to lower all-cause mortality in participants with chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea. A higher health behaviors score is also associated with less all-cause mortality in patients with fecal incontinence. Maintaining CVH at the population level contributes to intestinal health, achieving the dual management of both while saving on healthcare costs. However, further prospective research is needed to confirm these associations.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
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...
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:20Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
01:29Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include: