title: Epidemiological study of elderly constipation in Beijing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the present situation of elderly constipation in urban and rural areas of the Beijing region.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1942 cases (≥ 60 years) were selected in the Beijing region for investigation. Constipation-related data collection was carried out via hierarchical status, segmentation, and random cluster sampling. Patient data concerning constipation-related demographic indicators, education level, occupation, economic status, and history of gastrointestinal disease was obtained via questionnaires and surveys. Constipation was defined according to the Rome III criteria, with the following constipation judgment indicators: defecation less than 3 times per week, stool weight less than 35 g/d, dry and hard stool, and difficulty in defecating during more than 25% of evacuation attempts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1942 cases, 634 were diagnosed with constipation, and the total prevalence rate was 32.6%, which increased with age. There was a statistically insignificantly higher prevalence of constipation in females (compared to males) and urban areas (compared to rural areas). There was a statistically insignificantly higher prevalence in the illiterate group compared to the literacy group. Those engaged in mental work suffered from statistically significantly higher constipation prevalence than those engaged in physical labor. A total of 1847 cases did not suffer from gastritis, of which 595 cases were constipated; although the prevalence rate was 32.2%, showing a higher incidence of constipation in patients with gastritis, no significant statistical difference between the two groups was found. A total of 59 cases with a past history of biliary tract disease were found, of which 26 had constipation; constipation prevalence was 44.1% (far higher than other groups), which was a statistically significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of elderly constipation in the Beijing region closely resembles Western countries, and is significantly affected by region, age, and past history of other related illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Mei Zhang, Hong-Ming Zhu, Zhe Tang, Bang-Yi Li, Dan-Dan Zhao, Department of Gastroenterology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Mei Zhang, Hong-Ming Zhu, Zhe Tang, Bang-Yi Li, Dan-Dan Zhao, Department of Gastroenterology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jiao
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Mei Zhang, Hong-Ming Zhu, Zhe Tang, Bang-Yi Li, Dan-Dan Zhao, Department of Gastroenterology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Mei Zhang, Hong-Ming Zhu, Zhe Tang, Bang-Yi Li, Dan-Dan Zhao, Department of Gastroenterology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Mei Zhang, Hong-Ming Zhu, Zhe Tang, Bang-Yi Li, Dan-Dan Zhao, Department of Gastroenterology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Bang-Yi
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Mei Zhang, Hong-Ming Zhu, Zhe Tang, Bang-Yi Li, Dan-Dan Zhao, Department of Gastroenterology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Dan-Dan
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health
keywords: Constipation; Elderly; Epidemiology; Factors; Prevalence