title: Prevalence of constipation in the German population - a representative survey (GECCO).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Variable prevalence rates between 2.4 and 35% have been reported for chronic constipation across different countries worldwide, with a low 5% for Germany.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a computer-assisted telephone interview among 15,002 representative individuals in Germany, asking about health-related problems, including constipation. Those who acknowledged the presence of constipation symptoms during the preceding 12 months were questioned concerning constipation features and sociographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 15,002 individuals interviewed, 2,239 (14.9%) acknowledged having experienced constipation during the last 12 months, 864 (5.8%) reported constipation during the last 4 weeks, and 380 (2.5%) had current constipation symptoms; 4.4% had taken medication because of their constipation, and 2.6% had consulted a doctor for constipation. In comparison to non-constipated volunteers, those constipated had a lower health quality of life and poorer health, and lower income and social status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Up to 15% of the general (German) population report symptoms of constipation depending on the definition. This matches pooled constipation rates across 18 countries (14%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enck
authors.affiliation: infas Institute, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leinert
authors.affiliation: infas Institute, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Menno
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smid
authors.affiliation: infas Institute, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine VI, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwille-Kiuntke
keywords: Constipation; epidemiology; general population; prevalence