title: The impact of functional constipation on quality of life of middle-aged Black Americans: a prospective case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the impact of constipation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Black Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control design. Black subjects referred for colon cancer screening with a Bristol Stool Score of 3-5 for >75% of bowel movements served as controls. Frequency-matched functional constipation subjects had to fulfill Rome III criteria. Both groups completed demographic and health surveys. Short Form-36 assessed HRQoL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We recruited 102 constipated patients and 100 controls. The groups were well matched demographically. After adjustment for comorbidities, SF-36 scores for vitality, bodily pain, social functioning, and role-emotional were significantly lower in constipated patients. Unadjusted physical and mental component summary scores (PCS and MCS) were significantly higher in the control group (47.1 ± 10.6 vs. 43.3 ± 8.6; P = 0.005 and 50.6 ± 12.4 vs. 43.4 ± 11.8; P < 0.001, respectively). After adjustment for comorbidities, PCS differences were no longer significant (P = 0.54); however, MCS differences were significant (P = 0.004). Marginal mean scores for the MCS for controls and constipated subjects were 49.9 ± 1.2 and 43.6 ± 1.2, respectively. The presence of a comorbidity was independently associated with PCS (P < 0.001) and MCS (P = 0.026) results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional constipation has a significant impact on HRQoL in middle-aged Black Americans, particularly in regard to mental well-being.
authors.affiliation: Temple University School of Medicine, Temple University Hospital, 3401 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. Frank.Friedenberg@tuhs.temple.edu
authors.forename: Frank K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Friedenberg
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dadabhai
authors.forename: Amiya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palit
authors.forename: Abhinav
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sankineni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001741:Black or African American