A Study of Constipation in the Elderly Living at Home
- 1 January 1985
- journal article
- research article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Gerontology
- Vol. 31 (2) , 112-118
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000212689
Abstract
A cross-sectional survey of bowel habit has been carried out on 201 elderly patients living at home. Although symptoms of constipation were common, reported bowel frequency was similar to younger people. Constipation was most clearly associated with poor mobility and depression. Digital rectal examination was generally unreliable as an indicator of constipation. Using the abdominal radiograph as the final arbiter, true constipation was present in less than half of those complaining of constipation.Keywords
This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: