title: Constipation in community-dwelling elders: prevalence and associated factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of constipation in community-dwelling elders and to analyze associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample comprised 186 elders from 5 Senior Citizen Centers in Jeju-si.
  
  
  METHODS
  This community-based cross-sectional study used a structured questionnaire to collect data via interviews with respondents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were completed by the principal investigator and an assistant. Interviews required approximately 20 minutes and were completed in the senior centers. Respondents were queried about demographic characteristics, body mass index, alcohol consumption, level of exercise, depression, and lower urinary tract symptoms including urinary incontinence. Bowel elimination symptoms were queried, and the presence of constipation was established using Rome II criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to test for associations between potential risk factors and constipation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of constipation in this community-dwelling sample population was 25.8%. The most common symptoms were "hard or lumpy stools" reported by 30.8% and "straining during a bowel movement" reported by 27.1%. Analysis via logistic regression found that constipation is associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (odds ratio = 1.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.14) and obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m) (odds ratio = 2.4; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-5.57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Slightly more than one quarter of the elderly reported symptoms of constipation. Associated factors were presence of lower urinary tract symptoms and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. hjsong@jejunu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Hyo Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors