[Clinical factors associated with response to biofeedback therapy for patients with chronic constipation].
OBJECTIVE
Biofeedback therapy has been widely used for the treatment of constipated patients. However, there are only a few reports about the clinical factors that can predict the effectiveness of biofeedback therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors before the initiation of biofeedback treatment in constipated patients.


METHODS
Biofeedback treatment was performed in 114 patients with constipation. After classifying the patients into two groups, responder and non-responder by subjective and objective parameters, univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate the factors associated with effectiveness of biofeedback therapy.


RESULTS
Eighty-five patients (74.6%) responded to biofeedback therapy. Pre-treatment balloon expulsion test, paradoxical contraction on manometry, defecation index and anal residual pressure during straining were the factors that influenced the results of biofeedback treatment. On multivariate analysis, defecation index (odds ratio=67.5, p<0.05) and paradoxical contraction on manometry (odds ratio=0.053, p<0.05) were the factors that showed significant difference between the responders and non-responders.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that several pre-treatment prognostic factors are associated with response to biofeedback for the constipated patients. Using prognostic factors, we may be able to evaluate the patterns of pelvic floor dysfunction and responsiveness of biofeedback therapy for the patients with constipation.
Park
Do Hyun
DH
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Myung
Seung-Jae
SJ
Yoon
In-Ja
IJ
Kwon
Oh-Rhyun
OR
Ko
Jung-Eun
JE
Chang
Hye-Sook
HS
Yang
Suk-Kyun
SK
Kim
Tae-Hwoon
TH
Song
Hye-Kyung
HK
Lee
Jin-Hyuk
JH
Jung
Hwoon-Yong
HY
Hong
Weon-Seon
WS
Kim
Jin-Ho
JH
Min
Young-Il
YI
D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome