title: Constipation in Iran: SEPAHAN Systematic Review No. 5.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Constipation is physically and mentally troublesome for many patients and has adverse effects on their quality of life. The aim of the present study was to systematically review previous studies on the epidemiology of constipation in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bibliographic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Iranian databases including Scientific Information Database, Iran Medex, and Magiran were searched to select studies that reported the prevalence of constipation in Iran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 10 articles met the inclusion criteria of the current study. The prevalence of constipation in Iran ranged from 1.4-37%, and the prevalence of functional constipation was reported to be 2.4-11.2%. Gender, age, socioeconomic status and educational level seem to have major effects on this condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of constipation is high in Iran. There are very few data available regarding the natural history, quality of life and risk factors of constipation in our country. Conducting population-based studies is necessary to explore different epidemiological aspects of constipation in Iran.
authors: Medical Students' Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Niloufar
authors: N
authors: Iraji
authors: Ammar Hassanzadeh
authors: AH
authors: Keshteli
authors: Shirin
authors: S
authors: Sadeghpour
authors: Parnaz
authors: P
authors: Daneshpajouhnejad
authors: Mohammadreza
authors: M
authors: Fazel
authors: Peyman
authors: P
authors: Adibi