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Epidemiology of constipation in the general adult population
TABLE 1 Prevalence of constipation in adults in the general population: UK surveys
Authors Sample (age) Symptoms Prevalence
(95% confidence interval (CI))
General population
Connell et al, 1965 Factory workers 1. Frequency (≤ 4 1. 5.1% (4–6)
n = 1055 bowel movements 2. 4% (3–5)
per week)
2. Self-reported
constipation
Thompson & Heaton, 1980 Healthy adults; Often straining 10% (7–13)
17–91 years at stool
n = 301 (> 1/4 occasions)
Heaton & Cripps, 1993; General population; 1. Frequent straining 1. Men: 39% (36–42);
Heaton et al, 1993 834 men (> 1/4 occasions) women: 51.5% (48–54)
(40–60 years); 2. Self-reported 2. Men: 2% (1–3);
1058 women ‘frequent’ or women: 10% (8–11)
(25–29 years) ‘constant’
Probert et al, 1995 731 women 1. Symptoms 1. 8.2% (6–10)
(25–69 years) (Rome criteria)
2. Self-perceived 2. 8.5% (7–11)
Older people
Thompson & Heaton, 1980 Healthy adults Straining at stool 20% (12–28)
(60–91 years)
n = 100
Heaton & Cripps, 1993; General population; Straining to start Men: 14% (7–21);
Heaton et al, 1993 181 men, 84 women women: 23% (17–29)
(60–69 years)
Donald et al, 1985 Elderly living at home, 1. Self-reported 1. 23% (16–30)
sampled from general constipation
practitioner register 2. Straining 2. 25% (18–33)
(Mean age 76 years)
n = 129
Rome criteria (Probert et al, 1995). The prevalence
of self-reported frequent constipation in men
appears to be much lower – about 2% (Heaton
& Cripps, 1993).
Prevalence of constipation in
the elderly
Constipation appears to be a greater problem
in elderly people. Not only does the prevalence
appear to be much higher in this age group
but the impact on quality of life is greater.
There have been a small number of UK
surveys which have estimated the prevalence
of constipation in the elderly. These surveys
are categorised below according to whether
the participants were living either in the
community or in some form of institution
(including hospitals).
Prevalence of constipation in elderly
people living in the community
Estimates of the prevalence of constipation
in elderly people living in private households
are available from several UK surveys (Table 1).
Some of these allow direct comparisons with the
prevalence in younger age groups in the same
survey. For example, in Thompson and Heaton’s
(1980) survey of 301 apparently healthy adults,
constipation (defined as straining at stool) was
reported significantly more often by elderly
respondents (20% ± 8%) than by middle-aged
(8%) and younger (3%) respondents. In their
UK survey, Heaton and Cripps (1993) also found
the prevalence of reported straining to increase