title: Epidemiology of constipation in São Paulo, Brazil: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiologic data on constipation in South America are limited. The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of constipation in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Telephone and personal surveys were conducted among community-dwelling adults in homes with land-based telephones in São Paulo. Data were weighted by numbers of adults, total residents, and telephones in each household. To account for potential nonresponse and noncoverage bias, results were further adjusted according to Brazilian census data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 4570 households contacted, 3050 adults (66.7%) participated. Respondents (mean [SE] age: 42.6 [2.7] years) were primarily women (53.1%). A minority of all respondents reported symptoms consistent with constipation, including a perception of incomplete voiding in 8.0%; expending efforts to defecate in 7.6%; ≤2 stools weekly in 9.0%; and hard stools in 12.7%. Prevalences of these symptoms and efforts to manage them were more frequent in women (P ≤ 0.004), but most were not significantly associated with advancing age. With increasing age, proportions of respondents with ≤2 stools per week declined (P = 0.001), whereas use of bowel enemas (P = 0.026) and digital maneuvers to disimpact stool increased (P < 0.001). Despite frequent constipation symptoms, the vast majority of respondents did not report using prescription medications, but some used natural remedies (29.5%) and/or laxatives (13.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms of constipation are prevalent in São Paulo, particularly among women. On the other hand, most survey respondents did not use medications or other remedies that manage this condition. These findings may point to an unmet gastrointestinal treatment need. Future research is needed to corroborate our findings in rural settings and to further evaluate potential predictors and consequences of constipation in South America.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Décio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chinzon
authors.forename: Telma R P
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Dias-Bastos
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medeiros da Silva
authors.forename: Jaime N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Eisig
authors.forename: Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mdo R
authors.lastname: Latorre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013689:Telephone; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054368:Laxatives
keywords: Age; Constipation; Epidemiology; Gender; Prevalence; South America; Survey