A longitudinal study of constipation and laxative use in a community-dwelling elderly population.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about laxative use, the association of constipation with laxative use, risk factors for constipation and how each of these changes over time in the community-dwelling elderly.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to explore the prevalence of laxative use and of self-reported constipation, and identify risk factors (including age) associated with constipation, in a cohort of community-dwelling elderly residents.


METHODS
Data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA) was used to compare differences in constipation and laxative use in the community-dwelling elderly between 1992-1993 and 2003-2004.


RESULTS
Relevant data was available for 239 ALSA participants. The prevalence of self-reported constipation increased from 14% in 1992-1993 to 21% in 2003-2004. There was a corresponding increase in the prevalence of laxative use from 6% to 15% over the same period. At both time points, females reported a higher prevalence of both constipation and laxative use however the female:male prevalence ratios decreased over time indicating higher increases in the prevalence of each among males. Persistent chronic constipation occurred in 9% of the cohort. The association between laxative use and self-reported constipation was poor and laxative use was associated with self-reported constipation in less than a third of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of both constipation and laxative use increases with age in the elderly, and these increases are greater for males than for females. Discrepancies between self-reported constipation and laxative use may suggest sub-optimal management of constipation in the community-dwelling elderly and further work is needed to fully understand this.
Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: bwer8557@uni.sydney.edu.au.
Barry L
BL
Werth
Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Kylie A
KA
Williams
Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Lisa G
LG
Pont
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D017678:Sex Distribution
D054368:Laxatives
Aged; Community; Constipation; Laxatives; Longitudinal survey; Risk factors