Division of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, 85259, USA.
Am J Gastroenterol. 2012 Jan;107(1):18-25; quiz 26. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2011.349. Epub 2011 Oct 11.
Constipation is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal disorders encountered in clinical practice in Western societies. Its prevalence increases with age and is more frequently reported in female patients. Chronic constipation has been associated with considerable impairment in quality of life, can result in large individual healthcare costs, and represents a burden to healthcare delivery systems. This review will focus on the definition, epidemiology, diagnostic approach, and non-pharmacologic as well as pharmacologic management of chronic constipation in the elderly, including an overview of new medications currently under clinical investigation.
便秘是在西方社会的临床实践中最常见的胃肠道疾病之一。其患病率随着年龄的增长而增加，并且在女性患者中更为常见。慢性便秘与生活质量的显著下降有关，会导致个体医疗保健成本的增加，并给医疗保健系统带来负担。本综述将重点介绍老年人便秘的定义、流行病学、诊断方法以及非药物和药物治疗，包括目前正在临床研究中的新药概述。
