Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
BMC Gastroenterol. 2022 Mar 8;22(1):110. doi: 10.1186/s12876-022-02195-z.
Many older patients experience constipation as a bothersome symptom with a negative impact on quality of life. During hospitalization, the focus is often on the reason for admission with the risk that other health problems are not prioritized. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of constipation and use of laxatives among older hospitalized patients and to investigate the associations with demographic factors, risk assessments and prescribed medications.
A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study design was used. This study enrolled patients aged 65 years or older admitted to a geriatric department. Data from electronic health records regarding constipation, demographics, risk assessments, medical diagnoses, prescribed medications and length of stay were extracted. Constipation was assessed using ICD- 10 diagnosis, documented signs and symptoms of constipation, and prescribed laxatives. Data was analyzed using descriptive and comparative analyses, including logistic regression.
In total, 6% of the patients had an ICD-10 diagnosis of constipation, 65% had signs and symptoms of constipation, and 60% had been prescribed laxatives. Only 5% of the patients had constipation documented according to ICD-10, signs and symptoms, and prescribed laxatives. Signs and symptoms of constipation were associated with prescribed opioids (OR = 2.254) and longer length of stay (OR = 1.063). Being prescribed laxatives was associated with longer length of stay (OR = 1.109), prescribed opioids (OR = 2.154), and older age (OR = 1.030).
The prevalence of constipation varies depending on the methods used to identify the condition. There was a discrepancy between the documentation of constipation in relation to sign and symptoms, ICD-10 diagnosis and prescribed laxatives. The documentation of constipation was not consistent for the three methods of assessment.
许多老年患者经历便秘作为一个令人烦恼的症状，对生活质量有负面影响。在住院期间，重点往往是入院的原因，而其他健康问题的风险则被忽视。本研究的目的是描述老年住院患者便秘的患病率和泻药的使用情况，并调查与人口统计学因素、风险评估和处方药物的相关性。
采用描述性回顾性横断面研究设计。本研究纳入了年龄在 65 岁或以上的老年科住院患者。从电子病历中提取关于便秘、人口统计学、风险评估、医学诊断、处方药物和住院时间的数据。便秘的评估使用 ICD-10 诊断、记录的便秘症状和体征以及处方的泻药。使用描述性和比较性分析，包括逻辑回归进行数据分析。
共有 6%的患者有 ICD-10 便秘诊断，65%有便秘症状和体征，60%有处方泻药。只有 5%的患者根据 ICD-10、症状和体征以及处方泻药记录有便秘。便秘的症状和体征与处方阿片类药物（OR=2.254）和住院时间延长（OR=1.063）相关。开泻药与住院时间延长（OR=1.109）、处方阿片类药物（OR=2.154）和年龄较大（OR=1.030）相关。
便秘的患病率取决于识别该疾病的方法。在与体征和症状、ICD-10 诊断和处方泻药相关的便秘记录方面存在差异。便秘的记录在三种评估方法中并不一致。
