title: A population-based study on bowel habits in a Korean community: prevalence of functional constipation and self-reported constipation.
abstract: Most studies of bowel habits have been conducted in Western countries. This study was conducted to estimate the epidemiology of constipation and the discrepancy between self-reported constipation and bowel habits in Koreans. Telephone interviews regarding bowel habits were conducted with a total of 1029 individuals in Korea, 15 years of age or older. Subjects were given a questionnaire which asked about bowel symptoms, sociodemographic associations, laxative use, and physician visits. Of all subjects 95.6% had a defecation frequency of between three per week and three per day. The prevalence was 16.5% for self-reported constipation, 9.2% for functional constipation (FC), and 3.9% for constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). Of subjects' self-reporting constipation, proportions of FC and IBS-C were 21.8% and 23.5%, respectively. Of subjects excluding self-reported constipation, the proportion of FC was 6.8%. Prevalences of self-reported constipation and IBS-C were higher in females than in males (P < 0.001). Of subjects' self-reporting constipation, 8.2% used laxatives. We conclude that constipation is a common problem in the general Korean population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Hanyang University Hospital, 17 Haeng dang-dong Sung dong-gu, Seoul 133-792, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Ho Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Oh Young
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hang Lak
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ho Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joon Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hahm
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Hoo
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Choon Suhk
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors