Constipation in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Constipation, a symptom of autonomic nervous system dysfunction affecting gastrointestinal motility, is common after acute ischemic stroke. The insular cortex is associated with autonomic symptoms, and damage to the left insula may result in constipation. We investigated the association between constipation and left-sided insular infarction in patients with acute stroke.

We retrospectively analyzed data from consecutive patients who received a diagnosis of acute infarction in the middle cerebral artery territory between January 2015 and December 2018. Constipation was defined as bowel movements less often than three times a week or a prescription for laxatives within 2 weeks of stroke onset. Clinical characteristics and factors associated with constipation were evaluated.

Among 892 patients (mean age, 75 [66-82] years; male, 566 [63.5%]), 301 (32.8%) had constipation. Infarction involving the insula (57.7% vs. 25.1%) and left-sided infarction (62.5% vs. 46.4%) were more frequent in patients with constipation than in those without constipation. In multivariable analysis, infarction involving the insula (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.57-3.36; P<0.001), left-sided infarction (aOR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.40-2.64; P<0.001), and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Score (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06; P<0.001) were associated with constipation. The incidence of constipation was highest in cases of left-sided infarction with insular involvement (69.2%).

Left-sided infarction, infarction involving the insular cortex, and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Score were identified as independent factors associated with constipation in patients with acute stroke.