A cross-sectional survey of the relationship between fecal incontinence and constipation.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the prevalence of fecal incontinence between constipated and nonconstipated women and correlated its prevalence with the number of Rome III constipation symptoms.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the prevalence of fecal incontinence and constipation among women who presented to two gynecologic clinics for routine care over a 24-month period. Fecal incontinence was defined as loss of well-formed and/or loose stool beyond the patient's control that occurred at least once in the last 4 weeks, was bothersome, had been present for the past 3 or more months, and had affected the person's activities, relationships, or feelings. Constipation was diagnosed using the Rome III criteria. Our study was exempt from institutional review board approval because it was a survey and did not ask for information that could be used to identify the participant.


RESULTS
Mean age of the 2,319 participants was 50.1 ± 15 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.7 ± 7. Seven hundred and twenty-five (31 %) women had constipation, and 233 (10 %) had fecal incontinence. One hundred and one (43 %) incontinent women had coexisting constipation. Logistic regression analysis identified white race (p = .013), menopause (p = .010), and constipation (p = .004) as risk factors for fecal incontinence. After controlling for these risk factors, constipated women were more likely to have fecal incontinence than nonconstipated women [relative risk (RR) 1.60, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.26-2.05]. In addition, the prevalence of fecal incontinence was strongly associated with the number of Rome III constipation symptoms (p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Constipation is an important risk factor for fecal incontinence.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506-9186, USA. esze@hsc.wvu.edu
Eddie H M
EH
Sze
C Debra
CD
Barker
Gerry
G
Hobbs
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology