Aging is Associated With Constipation in Japanese Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Post Hoc Analysis

• Published in: Gerontology and geriatric medicine Vol. 9; p. 23337214231215637
• Main Authors: Yagi, Sen, Furukawa, Shinya, Miyake, Teruki, Yoshida, Osamu, Shiraishi, Kana, Tange, Kazuhiro, Hashimoto, Yu, Kitahata, Shogo, Ninomiya, Tomoyuki, Hanayama, Masakazu, Suzuki, Seiyuu, Shibata, Naozumi, Murakami, Hidehiro, Ohashi, Katsuhisa, Tomida, Hideomi, Yamamoto, Yasunori, Takeshita, Eiji, Ikeda, Yoshio, Hiasa, Yoichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2023; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Constipation; Inflammatory bowel disease; constipation; ulcerative colitis; aging; inflammatory bowel disease; mucosal healing
• ISSN: 2333-7214; 2333-7214
• DOI: 10.1177/23337214231215637

Aim: Age is a risk factor for constipation. Constipation is common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and has been positively associated with disease activity, but evidence is limited. This study aimed to assess the association between disease activity and constipation in patients with UC. Methods: The study subjects consisted of 290 Japanese UC patients. The definition of constipation was based on Rome I criteria and/or medication for constipation. Information on and lifestyle habits was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire. Mucosal healing (MH) was defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore 0. Clinical remission (CR) was defined as both the absence of rectal bleeding and no abnormally high stool frequency (<3 times per day). Results: The prevalence of constipation is not associated with MH, CR, duration of UC and disease extent of UC. The prevalence of constipation among age groups, <40, 40–49 years, 50–59 years, 60–69 years, and >70 years was 10.0%, 5.8%, 15.7%, 11.8%, and 25.6%, respectively. >70 years was independently and positively associated with the prevalence of constipation (adjusted odds ratio 3.64 [95% confidence interval 1.26, 10.95], p for trend: .001). Conclusions: Aging was independently and positively associated with the prevalence of constipation in UC.