Abstract
Chronic constipation is a highly prevalent condition affecting nearly 15% of the US population. The incidence of constipation in adults is approximately 17%. As a symptom rather than a specific disorder, constipation represents a number of different pathophysiologic processes. Primary causes include colonic inertia, normal transit constipation, outlet dysfunction, and IBS-C, while secondary causes include medications, obstruction, neurologic or metabolic disorders. The main risk factors for constipation include diet, female gender, age, socioeconomic status, and medications. This chapter will review the epidemiology of constipation in adults as well as risk factors, incidence, prevalence, and natural history. This edition first published 2014 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | GI Epidemiology |
Subtitle of host publication | Diseases and Clinical Methodology: Second Edition |
Publisher | Wiley-Blackwell |
Pages | 235-248 |
Number of pages | 14 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781118727072 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780470672570 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 13 2014 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Medicine