Lynch A C, Dobbs B R, Keating J, Frizelle F A
Department of Surgery, Christchurch Hospital.
N Z Med J. 2001 Oct 26;114(1142):474-7.
To determine the prevalence of constipation and faecal incontinence in the community.
A 20-question multi-field postal questionnaire was sent to 1500 adults (over 18 years) randomly selected from the electoral roll in the Canterbury region. Questions detailed frequency of bowel function, time spent at the toilet, incidence and severity of faecal incontinence, constipation, and the effect of disordered bowel function.
Of 1500 questionnaires, 717 (48%) were returned (male: female 388:329). The median age was 46 years (range 18-70). 24 (4%) had self-reported gastrointestinal disease. There was a median frequency of seven bowel motions per week (BM/wk) (range 1 to 70) with 89% having between two motions a day and one every two days. Faecal incontinence affected lifestyle in 58 (8.1%). Incontinence of solid stool at least once a month occurred in 70 (9.8%), of liquid stool in 91 (12.7%), of gas in 459 (64%), while 12 (2%) regularly wore a pad. Those with self-reported gastrointestinal disease had a significantly higher (p<0.05) bowel motion frequency (17 vs 7 BM/wk) and median faecal incontinence score (2.5 vs 0). Laxatives were used by 4.9% of the population, while 26.2% increased fibre to avoid constipation.
The normal frequency of bowel motions (+/- 2SD) was 2-17 per week. Faecal incontinence affecting life style affected 8.1%, while constipation requiring regular laxative use affected 4.9% of people. There is acceptance in the community that a moderate degree of bowel dysfunction is normal. Stool frequency and faecal incontinence scores can be used to predict those most likely to have organic gastrointestinal disease.
确定社区中便秘和大便失禁的患病率。
向从坎特伯雷地区选民名册中随机选取的1500名成年人（18岁以上）发送了一份包含20个问题的多领域邮政问卷。问题详细涉及肠道功能频率、在厕所停留的时间、大便失禁、便秘的发生率和严重程度以及肠道功能紊乱的影响。
1500份问卷中，717份（48%）被收回（男性：女性为388:329）。中位年龄为46岁（范围18 - 70岁）。24人（4%）自述有胃肠道疾病。每周排便次数（BM/周）的中位数为7次（范围1至70次），89%的人每天排便2次至每两天排便1次。大便失禁影响58人（8.1%）的生活方式。每月至少有一次固体粪便失禁的有70人（9.8%），液体粪便失禁的有91人（12.7%），气体失禁的有459人（64%），而12人（2%）经常使用护垫。自述有胃肠道疾病的人排便频率显著更高（p<0.05）（17次/周对7次/周），大便失禁中位评分也更高（2.5对0）。4.9%的人群使用泻药，而26.2%的人增加膳食纤维摄入以避免便秘。
正常排便频率（±2标准差）为每周2 - 17次。影响生活方式的大便失禁影响了8.1%的人，而需要定期使用泻药的便秘影响了4.9%的人。社区中人们认为一定程度的肠道功能紊乱是正常的。排便频率和大便失禁评分可用于预测最有可能患有器质性胃肠道疾病的人群。
