PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTIPATION IN ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN A COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF MACEIÓ, ALAGOAS – BRAZIL

Abstract

Objective: To identify the prevalence of constipation and possible factors associated with this clinical condition in community-dwelling older adults living in Maceió, a city in the Northeast region of Brazil. Materials and methods: cross-sectional study with people aged ≥ 60 years, of both sexes, living in Maceió. Sociodemographic and economic information, health conditions, cognitive ability and anthropometric measurements were gathered. The evacuatory pattern was evaluated based on the ROMA IV criteria. Results: The prevalence of constipation found was 40.0%. Among the frequent symptoms were reported the sensation of incomplete emptying (n = 89; 37.2%), the presence of hardened stools (n = 88; 36.7%), and evacuatory effort (n = 65; 27.1%) Mild depression (OR = 2.29; p < 0.01), hypertension (OR = 0.55; p = 0.03), and polypharmacy (OR = 0.41; p = 0.03) were associated with the outcome. The diagnosis of mild depression remained associated, increasing the chances of the elderly person having constipation by two times (OR = 2.10 p = 0.02). Conclusion: The prevalence of constipation in the study population was high and was associated, in univariate analysis, with the diagnosis of hypertension, use of polypharmacy and depression.