Prevalence, Symptoms, and Associated Factors of Chronic Constipation Among Older Adults in North-East of Peninsular Malaysia
Patimah Abdul Wahab, Dariah Mohd Yusoff, Azidah Abdul Kadir, Siti Hawa Ali, Lee Yeong Yeh
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the prevalence, symptoms, and associated factors of chronic constipation among older adults in the North-East of Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among older patients from four health clinics. A total of 400 older patients participated, with a mean age of 68.7 ( SD = 6.4) years. The prevalence of chronic constipation was 14.8%. The highest symptom reported was the inability to pass stool (98.3%). Chronic constipation was significantly associated with older age (OR = 2.97; 95% CI [1.17, 7.54]; p = .022), inadequate plain water intake per day (OR = 2.13; 95% CI [1.13, 4.02]; p = .020), hypertension (OR = 2.22; 95% CI [1.07, 4.61]; p = .033), and hyperlipidemia (OR = 2.52; 95% CI [1.24, 5.11]; p = .010). Identification of chronic constipation should be done as part of routine clinic visits, especially for older patients with cardiovascular disease.