title: Clinical features of constipation in general practice in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Definition and diagnosis of constipation remain challenging, partly due to different perceptions of the disease by doctors and patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate prevalence and features of constipation among individuals seen in general practice, by comparing different diagnostic instruments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized questionnaires and the Bristol stool form scale were distributed to all subjects attending 10 general practitioners for any reason in a 2-week period. The questionnaires investigated constipation defined according to: (1) self-perception (yes/no); (2) a visual analogue scale; (3) Rome III Criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of constipation in 1306 subjects (790 female, 516 male) resulted: (1) 34% self-reported; (2) 28% by visual analogue scale; (3) 24% by Rome Criteria. Constipation was more frequent in females. A high frequency of symptoms of obstructed defecations was observed with differences among patients with self-reported constipation with or without Bristol stool type 1-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of constipation among individuals attending their GP ranges between 24 and 34%, according to the different definitions adopted. Symptoms of obstructed defecations are frequent. The combination of self-evaluation and the Bristol stool type scale is potentially useful to identify subgroups of patients with different clinical features in general practice.
authors.affiliation: Italian College of General Practitioners (SIMG), Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cottone
authors.affiliation: Italian College of General Practitioners (SIMG), Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tosetti
authors.affiliation: Italian College of General Practitioners (SIMG), Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Disclafani
authors.affiliation: Italian College of General Practitioners (SIMG), Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ubaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cogliandro
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Diseases and Internal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stanghellini
keywords: Constipation; Rome criteria; epidemiology; general practice; questionnaire