title: [Incidence of constipation in patients with outpatient opioid therapy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Constipation is a common complication in patients with opioid therapy. Additionally, patient-related risk factors also contribute to the development of constipation and these factors have to be integrated into an individualized treatment plan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of constipation in patients with opioid therapy in an outpatient setting and to analyze the risk factors that contribute to the development of constipation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective cohort study was conducted in two university affiliated outpatient departments at the Charité hospital in Berlin. The trial included all consecutively treated patients with opioid therapy of at least 4 weeks duration. The study was conducted from January 2013 to August 2013. Constipation was defined according to the Rome III criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 1166 screened patients, altogether 171 patients were included with a median duration of opioid therapy of 5 years. The most common diagnoses were back pain, musculoskeletal pain and neuropathic pain. In 14% of the treated patients symptoms of constipation were detected and another 35% needed laxatives for symptom control resulting in an overall incidence of constipation of 49%. The remaining 51% of the patients did not use any laxatives and did not experience symptoms of constipation. Age and dosing of opioid therapy significantly increased the risk of consipation but duration of opioid therapy was not related to the incidence of constipation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of constipation in this population remains high although a relevant number of patients were intermittently free of symptoms without using laxatives. An individualized therapy plan and patient education seem to be important elements to control opioid-associated constipation.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie mit Schwerpunkt operative Intensivmedizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland. sascha.tafelski@charite.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tafelski
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie mit Schwerpunkt operative Intensivmedizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beutlhauser
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie mit Schwerpunkt operative Intensivmedizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellin
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie mit Schwerpunkt operative Intensivmedizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie mit Schwerpunkt operative Intensivmedizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fritzsche
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie mit Schwerpunkt operative Intensivmedizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie mit Schwerpunkt operative Intensivmedizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schäfer
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001604:Berlin; D015984:Causality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: Incidence; Laxatives; Pain; Side effects; Study